This study reveals the structural mechanism of electron transfer in iNOS using cryo-EM, showing how FMND moves to shuttle electrons from FAD to haem via W366.

bioRxiv · May 15, 2026 · PreprintBiochemistry

Inhibition mechanism of pancreatic KATP channels by centipede toxins

Tianyi Hou, Mengmeng Wang, Yongmei Tan, Chengpeng Fan, Lei Chen

This paper identifies centipede toxins SpTx1 and Sm3a as inhibitors of human pancreatic KATP channels, revealing their binding mechanism and therapeutic potential for neonatal diabetes.

Research · Jan 1, 2026Peer-reviewedBiophysics

Unveiling Eukaryotic Membrane Proteins in High Resolution Using Peptide Solubilization

Jiahe Zang, Yiting Shi, Weiyu Tao, Xiaoyu Liu, Wenjun Guo, Lei Chen

This paper introduces a peptide-based method to solubilize eukaryotic membrane proteins without detergents, enabling high-resolution structural studies.

Journal of Molecular Biology · Oct 7, 2025Peer-reviewedBiophysics

Mechanisms of urate transport and uricosuric drugs inhibition in human URAT1

Wenjun Guo, Miao Wei, Yunfeng Li, Jiaxuan Xu, Jiahe Zang, Yuezhou Chen, Lei Chen

Cryo-EM structures of human URAT1 with urate, benzbromarone, or verinurad (3.0 to 3.3 Å) reveal a rocker-switch transport cycle and inhibitors that lock the inward-facing state.

Nature Communications · Feb 10, 2025Peer-reviewedBiochemistry✦ In-depth digest

Structure of small HBV surface antigen reveals mechanism of dimer formation

Xiao Dong He, Yunlu Kang, Weiyu Tao, Jiaxuan Xu, Xiaoyu Liu, Lei Chen

The paper determines the structure of HBsAg at 3.6 Å resolution, revealing how monomers form dimers as the basic unit of SVPs.

Cell Discovery · Jan 13, 2025Peer-reviewedBiophysics