biophysical modeling

Bacillus subtilis YpeB holds SleB inactive preventing cortex peptidoglycan degradation during spore dormancy

This paper shows YpeB inhibits SleB in dormant Bacillus subtilis spores through direct interaction, preventing premature cortex degradation.

Propagation electrodynamics and differential conduction of action potentials in geometrically branched squid giant axons

This paper develops a coupled Maxwell-electromagnetic cable framework to model action potential propagation in branched axons, showing electromagnetic effects significantly impact conduction and bifurcation transmission.

CATSPERβ--δ Interaction Governs Hierarchical CatSper Holo-complex Assembly and is Essential for Male Fertility

Regulatory divergence and functional diversification of a c-di-GMP-controlled sigma factor in Actinomycetota

This paper analyzes the evolution and functional diversification of the WhiG sigma factor in Actinomycetota, revealing two distinct clades with different regulatory mechanisms and expanded biological roles.

Atypical BlaIR Two-Component System in Pseudomonas aeruginosa Regulates Virulence but not β-Lactam Resistance

This study identifies an atypical BlaIR system, pvmSR, in Pseudomonas aeruginosa that regulates virulence but not β-lactam resistance, using C. elegans as a model.

A lipid fenestration-gated membrane depolarization mechanism expands the repertoire of CRISPR-mediated anti-phage defense strategies

The paper identifies a lipid-gated mechanism in CRISPR-Cas systems that uses membrane depolarization to block viral replication.

Thermodynamic Profiling of Glucose Translocation in POPC embedded GLUT-4 protein models

This study compares the thermodynamic behavior of glucose translocation in GLUT4 using Cryo-EM and AlphaFold models, revealing structural limitations in AI-generated models.

Viral Protease Nsp5 Hijacks La Autoantigen to Orchestrate the Translation to Replication Transition in SARS-CoV-2

This paper shows that SARS-CoV-2's Nsp5 protease cleaves La protein to switch viral RNA from translation to replication.

Pervasive integrative and conjugative elements shape Porphyromonas gingivalis gene repertoires

This paper identifies pervasive integrative and conjugative elements (ICEs) in Porphyromonas gingivalis genomes, showing they contribute to strain-level gene diversity and virulence.

The cytoplasmic C-terminal domain of the MmpL11 lipid transporter is required for interaction with its co-cistronic partner MSMEG_0240 in Mycobacterium smegmatis

This study identifies the C-terminal domain of MmpL11 as required for its interaction with MSMEG_0240 using biotin proximity labeling assays in Mycobacterium smegmatis.

Decoding EGFR ligand bias through an endocytic organelle platform

The paper identifies a RAC1-PLCγ2 axis that decodes EGFR ligand bias by linking receptor trafficking to metabolic programs supporting cell migration.

Improved cross-presentation enabled by fusion-dependent mini-proteins that efficiently reach the dendritic cell cytosol

This study improves cross-presentation by using fusion-dependent mini-proteins to enhance antigen delivery to the dendritic cell cytosol, leading to better MHC-I presentation and T-cell activation.

δ-Catenins couple cadherin adhesions to phospholipid-rich membrane domains

This study identifies two distinct mechanisms by which Pkp4, a δ-catenin, is recruited to adherens junctions: one via cadherin binding and another via phospholipid-rich membrane domains.

Decoding the mechanisms of cooperative DNA binding by the Paired-like homeodomain family

The paper identifies 11 rules governing cooperativity in Paired-like homeodomain DNA binding and shows how disease variants disrupt this cooperativity.

Human TBC1 domain-containing kinase is a class I multidomain pseudokinase

The paper characterizes human TBCK as a class I pseudokinase through biochemical and biophysical analysis, revealing its catalytically inactive nature and structural features.

Mechanism of branched actin assembly at microtubule tips downstream of Adenomatous Polyposis Coli (APC) protein

The paper identifies the APC - Asef1 - Cdc42 - N-WASP - Arp2/3 pathway as a mechanism by which microtubules regulate directional cell migration and neuron navigation through branched actin assembly at microtubule tips.

The dynamic and heterogeneous structure of the non-canonical inflammasome

This paper determines the structure and dynamics of the non-canonical inflammasome using biophysical methods, showing it is heterogeneous and primed for rapid substrate cleavage.

Bulky lesions on the displaced strand stimulate DNA unwinding by dimeric UvrD-family helicases

The paper shows that dimeric UvrD-family helicases unwind DNA more efficiently when bulky lesions are on the displaced strand, suggesting a model where one subunit interacts with the displaced strand to promote processive unwinding.

Adaptation of white adipocytes to cooler temperatures: impacts on energy metabolism and protein acetylation

This study shows that cooling reduces protein acetylation in adipocytes, affecting mitochondrial function and metabolism without changing enzyme expression or acetyl-CoA availability.

Smc5/6 - microtubules binding shapes pericentromeric chromatin

This study shows that Smc5/6 microtubule binding constrains chromatin dynamics and promotes pericentromeric folding in yeast, safeguarding genome stability during mitosis.

Altered MicroRNA Signatures in Circulating Extracellular Vesicles Reflect Aortic Dilation in Takayasu Arteritis

This study identifies miR-223-3p in extracellular vesicles as a biomarker for aortic dilation in Takayasu arteritis, outperforming traditional inflammatory markers.

Stepwise DNA unwinding gates TnpB genome-editing activity

Ymu1 TnpB unwinds DNA via a long-lived partially unwound intermediate before a rarely stable open state; the WFR triple variant stabilizes both, boosting plant editing.

How a single sperm protein recognizes highly divergent egg coat components

The paper reports structures and binding data showing how a sperm protein recognizes divergent egg coat components through conserved interaction geometry and asymmetric binding dynamics.

Disease mutations in the N-terminal extension and α 2'-helix of dyskerin do not abolish dimerization but disrupt binding to the telomerase RNA

The paper shows that disease mutations in dyskerin's N-terminal extension and α2-helix do not prevent dimerization but impair hTR binding, contributing to X-DC pathogenesis.

The role of reticulate evolution in biodiversity formation: the case of neotropical Adiantum ferns

This study investigates reticulate evolution in neotropical Adiantum ferns using phylogenomic data and bioinformatic methods, revealing widespread hybridization and its impact on biodiversity and taxonomy.

A highly dynamic active state for transducin-bound phosphodiesterase-6 in vertebrate phototransduction

This paper uses biophysical techniques to show that GT* binding to PDE6 induces a dynamic active state, revealing a previously unobserved conformation associated with catalysis.

Leishmanial GP63 acts as a protease for the small pore forming toxin aerolysin

This study identifies GP63 as a protease that activates aerolysin toxin in Leishmania major, revealing a mechanism of bacterial competition in the sandfly midgut.

How Functional Variants Reconfigure the Rac2 Conformational Landscape

This study investigates how mutations in Rac2 alter its conformational dynamics and signaling, revealing distinct inactive and overactive states that impact cellular function.

Uncovering key genes related to potato tuber starch concentration from the tuber bulking, maturation stage to storage

This study identifies key genes regulating potato tuber starch concentration across growth stages using sequencing and bioinformatics, finding a negative correlation between β-glucosidase activity and starch content.

A broad-spectrum phage-encoded mechanism to disarm bacterial type IV filaments

This paper identifies Aqs1, a phage-encoded protein that inhibits type IV pilus function in multiple Gram-negative bacteria by targeting the PilB ATPase.