All articles tagged with #cryo em
Researchers report Fab5, a broadly reactive antibody that targets a conserved epitope on gammaherpesvirus gB, enabling cross-genus neutralization; it provides protection against authentic virus challenges in mice, non-human primates, and humanized mice, and cryo-EM reveals the epitope is exposed in both pre- and post-fusion conformations, offering a path toward broad-spectrum gammaherpesvirus vaccines.
Columbia University researchers report that certain statins, notably simvastatin, can bind to the ryanodine receptor in muscle cells and trigger a calcium leak, which weakens muscles or activates enzymes that degrade them, offering a possible explanation for statin-related pain and suggesting approaches such as designing safer statins or using drugs that block the calcium leak.
Scientists at Rockefeller University have discovered that T cell receptors behave like a jack-in-the-box, snapping open upon encountering an antigen, thanks to a native membrane environment recreated using nanodiscs. This new understanding could lead to improved cancer immunotherapies and vaccines by enabling more precise re-engineering of T cell responses.
The article discusses a novel computational approach using RFdiffusion, fine-tuned on antibody structures, to design de novo antibodies and VHHs with atomic-level accuracy, targeting specific epitopes. The method enables the creation of antibodies with precise epitope targeting, validated by cryo-EM structures, and demonstrates potential for rapid therapeutic development, although current success rates are low and can be improved with advanced filtering techniques like AlphaFold3.
Synthetic α-synuclein fibrils of strain 1B can replicate in mice, inducing MSA-like pathology through a prion-like templating process, with structural similarities to human MSA fibrils demonstrated by cryo-EM analysis.
This article presents cryo-EM structures revealing the mechanisms of conductance regulation and neurosteroid binding in NMDA receptors, highlighting different conformational states and the effects of neurosteroids like 24S-HC and EU1622-240 on receptor function.
The article explores the helicase-mediated mechanisms involved in the maturation and disassembly of the small subunit (SSU) processome during ribosome biogenesis, revealing high-resolution structures and interactions that coordinate RNA processing, quality control, and particle disassembly in the nucleolus.
The study reveals a novel structure of the BAM complex in Bacteroidota, featuring unique subunits that expand its function in assembling diverse outer membrane proteins, including large extracellular domains and surface lipoproteins, with implications for understanding bacterial membrane biogenesis and resistance mechanisms.
This article explores the molecular structure and function of plasma membrane Ca2+-ATPases (PMCAs), revealing how they achieve ultrafast calcium transport through specific structural features, interactions with phospholipids like PtdIns(4,5)P2, and conformational changes during their transport cycle, with implications for understanding their role in cellular calcium signaling and potential drug targeting.
Researchers have used cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) to investigate the structural basis of directional switching by the bacterial flagellum, a molecular motor that propels bacteria. The study provides atomic-level insights into the mechanisms underlying the ability of the flagellum to change direction, shedding light on the complex molecular machinery involved in this process. The data and code used for the analysis are publicly available, and the findings contribute to our understanding of bacterial motility and could have implications for the development of novel antimicrobial strategies.
Researchers have discovered the presence of TAF15 amyloid filaments in the brains of individuals with frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD) associated with FET proteins. This finding adds TAF15 to the list of proteins, including tau, TDP-43, and α-synuclein, that form amyloid filaments associated with neurodegenerative diseases. The study used cryo-electron microscopy to determine the structure of the TAF15 filaments, which were found in both upper and lower motor neurons in individuals with motor neuron pathology. The presence of TAF15 amyloid filaments characterizes FTLD-FET and provides new insights into the molecular basis of this neurodegenerative disease.
Researchers have used cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) to determine the structure of the human cardiac myosin filament, a key component of muscle contraction in the heart. The study provides insights into the organization and arrangement of proteins within the filament, including myosin heads, tails, titins, and cMyBP-C. The structural data has been deposited in public databases, allowing other scientists to access and analyze the findings. This research contributes to our understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying heart function and may have implications for the development of treatments for cardiac diseases.
Cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) has been instrumental in understanding the molecular pathology of neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease. By analyzing amyloid filaments at atomic resolution, researchers have identified the structural characteristics of these protein aggregates, including tau filaments in Alzheimer's disease. Cryo-EM has provided valuable insights into the formation and organization of amyloid fibrils, shedding light on the underlying mechanisms of neurodegeneration.
Researchers have discovered a quantum switch in the light-harvesting complex II (LHCII) that regulates photosynthesis. By combining cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) studies with energy transfer calculations, they identified the photosynthetic pigment quantum switch that controls intermolecular energy transfer. The switch is activated by a conformational change in LHCII upon acidification, leading to the quenching of excess light energy. This discovery provides insights into the atomic-level dynamic structural changes in LHCII and could potentially enhance photosynthetic efficiency.
Cryo-EM structures of the major light-harvesting complex II (LHCII) in photo-active and photo-protecting states have been determined, revealing the allosteric regulation of light harvesting and excess energy dissipation in photosynthesis. The structures provide insights into the mechanisms of non-photochemical quenching and photoprotection in plants, highlighting the role of pH sensing and the PsbS protein. The data availability includes cryo-EM maps and structure models deposited in the Electron Microscopy Data Bank and Protein Data Bank, respectively. Understanding these regulatory processes could lead to improvements in plant photosynthesis and crop productivity.