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Molecular And Structural Biology

All articles tagged with #molecular and structural biology

Unveiling the Structure of a Vital Protein Production Enzyme through Cryo-EM
molecular-and-structural-biology2 years ago

Unveiling the Structure of a Vital Protein Production Enzyme through Cryo-EM

Cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) has revealed the three-dimensional structure of the tRNA splicing endonuclease (TSEN) enzyme, shedding light on its interaction with precursor tRNAs (pre-tRNAs) and the excision of introns. TSEN plays a crucial role in the correct conversion of tRNAs, and mutations that disrupt its interaction with the RNA kinase CLP1 can lead to neurodegenerative disorders. The study provides insights into the structural basis of substrate recognition by TSEN and may aid in the development of potential therapies for related genetic disorders.

Unveiling the Nanoscale Journey of CRISPR-Cas Complexes
molecular-and-structural-biology2 years ago

Unveiling the Nanoscale Journey of CRISPR-Cas Complexes

Scientists at Leipzig University have developed a new method to track the gene recognition process of CRISPR-Cas protein complexes in real time and with high resolution. By measuring the smallest twists and torques of molecules, the researchers were able to observe the sequence recognition almost base pair by base pair. The findings provide insights into the stochastic nature of the recognition process and will help in selecting suitable RNA sequences to optimize the precision of genetic manipulation. The method, which utilizes DNA nanotechnology, can also be applied to other CRISPR-Cas complexes or biomolecules.