@article{10533,
abstract = {Flowering plants utilize small RNA molecules to guide DNA methyltransferases to genomic sequences. This RNA-directed DNA methylation (RdDM) pathway preferentially targets euchromatic transposable elements. However, RdDM is thought to be recruited by methylation of histone H3 at lysine 9 (H3K9me), a hallmark of heterochromatin. How RdDM is targeted to euchromatin despite an affinity for H3K9me is unclear. Here we show that loss of histone H1 enhances heterochromatic RdDM, preferentially at nucleosome linker DNA. Surprisingly, this does not require SHH1, the RdDM component that binds H3K9me. Furthermore, H3K9me is dispensable for RdDM, as is CG DNA methylation. Instead, we find that non-CG methylation is specifically associated with small RNA biogenesis, and without H1 small RNA production quantitatively expands to non-CG methylated loci. Our results demonstrate that H1 enforces the separation of euchromatic and heterochromatic DNA methylation pathways by excluding the small RNA-generating branch of RdDM from non-CG methylated heterochromatin.},
author = {Choi, Jaemyung and Lyons, David B and Zilberman, Daniel},
issn = {2050-084X},
journal = {eLife},
keywords = {genetics and molecular biology},
publisher = {eLife Sciences Publications},
title = {{Histone H1 prevents non-CG methylation-mediated small RNA biogenesis in Arabidopsis heterochromatin}},
doi = {10.7554/elife.72676},
volume = {10},
year = {2021},
}
@article{12585,
abstract = {Glaciers in High Mountain Asia generate meltwater that supports the water needs of 250 million people, but current knowledge of annual accumulation and ablation is limited to sparse field measurements biased in location and glacier size. Here, we present altitudinally-resolved specific mass balances (surface, internal, and basal combined) for 5527 glaciers in High Mountain Asia for 2000–2016, derived by correcting observed glacier thinning patterns for mass redistribution due to ice flow. We find that 41% of glaciers accumulated mass over less than 20% of their area, and only 60% ± 10% of regional annual ablation was compensated by accumulation. Even without 21st century warming, 21% ± 1% of ice volume will be lost by 2100 due to current climatic-geometric imbalance, representing a reduction in glacier ablation into rivers of 28% ± 1%. The ablation of glaciers in the Himalayas and Tien Shan was mostly unsustainable and ice volume in these regions will reduce by at least 30% by 2100. The most important and vulnerable glacier-fed river basins (Amu Darya, Indus, Syr Darya, Tarim Interior) were supplied with >50% sustainable glacier ablation but will see long-term reductions in ice mass and glacier meltwater supply regardless of the Karakoram Anomaly.},
author = {Miles, Evan and McCarthy, Michael and Dehecq, Amaury and Kneib, Marin and Fugger, Stefan and Pellicciotti, Francesca},
issn = {2041-1723},
journal = {Nature Communications},
keywords = {General Physics and Astronomy, General Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology, General Chemistry, Multidisciplinary},
publisher = {Springer Nature},
title = {{Health and sustainability of glaciers in High Mountain Asia}},
doi = {10.1038/s41467-021-23073-4},
volume = {12},
year = {2021},
}
@article{9778,
abstract = {The hippocampal mossy fiber synapse is a key synapse of the trisynaptic circuit. Post-tetanic potentiation (PTP) is the most powerful form of plasticity at this synaptic connection. It is widely believed that mossy fiber PTP is an entirely presynaptic phenomenon, implying that PTP induction is input-specific, and requires neither activity of multiple inputs nor stimulation of postsynaptic neurons. To directly test cooperativity and associativity, we made paired recordings between single mossy fiber terminals and postsynaptic CA3 pyramidal neurons in rat brain slices. By stimulating non-overlapping mossy fiber inputs converging onto single CA3 neurons, we confirm that PTP is input-specific and non-cooperative. Unexpectedly, mossy fiber PTP exhibits anti-associative induction properties. EPSCs show only minimal PTP after combined pre- and postsynaptic high-frequency stimulation with intact postsynaptic Ca2+ signaling, but marked PTP in the absence of postsynaptic spiking and after suppression of postsynaptic Ca2+ signaling (10 mM EGTA). PTP is largely recovered by inhibitors of voltage-gated R- and L-type Ca2+ channels, group II mGluRs, and vacuolar-type H+-ATPase, suggesting the involvement of retrograde vesicular glutamate signaling. Transsynaptic regulation of PTP extends the repertoire of synaptic computations, implementing a brake on mossy fiber detonation and a “smart teacher” function of hippocampal mossy fiber synapses.},
author = {Vandael, David H and Okamoto, Yuji and Jonas, Peter M},
issn = {2041-1723},
journal = {Nature Communications},
keywords = {general physics and astronomy, general biochemistry, genetics and molecular biology, general chemistry},
number = {1},
publisher = {Springer},
title = {{Transsynaptic modulation of presynaptic short-term plasticity in hippocampal mossy fiber synapses}},
doi = {10.1038/s41467-021-23153-5},
volume = {12},
year = {2021},
}
@article{11055,
abstract = {Vascular dysfunctions are a common feature of multiple age-related diseases. However, modeling healthy and pathological aging of the human vasculature represents an unresolved experimental challenge. Here, we generated induced vascular endothelial cells (iVECs) and smooth muscle cells (iSMCs) by direct reprogramming of healthy human fibroblasts from donors of different ages and Hutchinson-Gilford Progeria Syndrome (HGPS) patients. iVECs induced from old donors revealed upregulation of GSTM1 and PALD1, genes linked to oxidative stress, inflammation and endothelial junction stability, as vascular aging markers. A functional assay performed on PALD1 KD VECs demonstrated a recovery in vascular permeability. We found that iSMCs from HGPS donors overexpressed bone morphogenetic protein (BMP)−4, which plays a key role in both vascular calcification and endothelial barrier damage observed in HGPS. Strikingly, BMP4 concentrations are higher in serum from HGPS vs. age-matched mice. Furthermore, targeting BMP4 with blocking antibody recovered the functionality of the vascular barrier in vitro, hence representing a potential future therapeutic strategy to limit cardiovascular dysfunction in HGPS. These results show that iVECs and iSMCs retain disease-related signatures, allowing modeling of vascular aging and HGPS in vitro.},
author = {Bersini, Simone and Schulte, Roberta and Huang, Ling and Tsai, Hannah and HETZER, Martin W},
issn = {2050-084X},
journal = {eLife},
keywords = {General Immunology and Microbiology, General Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology, General Medicine, General Neuroscience},
publisher = {eLife Sciences Publications},
title = {{Direct reprogramming of human smooth muscle and vascular endothelial cells reveals defects associated with aging and Hutchinson-Gilford progeria syndrome}},
doi = {10.7554/elife.54383},
volume = {9},
year = {2020},
}
@article{11056,
abstract = {Aging of the circulatory system correlates with the pathogenesis of a large spectrum of diseases. However, it is largely unknown which factors drive the age-dependent or pathological decline of the vasculature and how vascular defects relate to tissue aging. The goal of the study is to design a multianalytical approach to identify how the cellular microenvironment (i.e., fibroblasts) and serum from healthy donors of different ages or Alzheimer disease (AD) patients can modulate the functionality of organ-specific vascular endothelial cells (VECs). Long-living human microvascular networks embedding VECs and fibroblasts from skin biopsies are generated. RNA-seq, secretome analyses, and microfluidic assays demonstrate that fibroblasts from young donors restore the functionality of aged endothelial cells, an effect also achieved by serum from young donors. New biomarkers of vascular aging are validated in human biopsies and it is shown that young serum induces angiopoietin-like-4, which can restore compromised vascular barriers. This strategy is then employed to characterize transcriptional/functional changes induced on the blood–brain barrier by AD serum, demonstrating the importance of PTP4A3 in the regulation of permeability. Features of vascular degeneration during aging and AD are recapitulated, and a tool to identify novel biomarkers that can be exploited to develop future therapeutics modulating vascular function is established.},
author = {Bersini, Simone and Arrojo e Drigo, Rafael and Huang, Ling and Shokhirev, Maxim N. and HETZER, Martin W},
issn = {2366-7478},
journal = {Advanced Biosystems},
keywords = {General Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology, Biomedical Engineering, Biomaterials},
number = {5},
publisher = {Wiley},
title = {{Transcriptional and functional changes of the human microvasculature during physiological aging and Alzheimer disease}},
doi = {10.1002/adbi.202000044},
volume = {4},
year = {2020},
}
@article{11058,
abstract = {Nucleoporin 93 (Nup93) expression inversely correlates with the survival of triple-negative breast cancer patients. However, our knowledge of Nup93 function in breast cancer besides its role as structural component of the nuclear pore complex is not understood. Combination of functional assays and genetic analyses suggested that chromatin interaction of Nup93 partially modulates the expression of genes associated with actin cytoskeleton remodeling and epithelial to mesenchymal transition, resulting in impaired invasion of triple-negative, claudin-low breast cancer cells. Nup93 depletion induced stress fiber formation associated with reduced cell migration/proliferation and impaired expression of mesenchymal-like genes. Silencing LIMCH1, a gene responsible for actin cytoskeleton remodeling and up-regulated upon Nup93 depletion, partially restored the invasive phenotype of cancer cells. Loss of Nup93 led to significant defects in tumor establishment/propagation in vivo, whereas patient samples revealed that high Nup93 and low LIMCH1 expression correlate with late tumor stage. Our approach identified Nup93 as contributor of triple-negative, claudin-low breast cancer cell invasion and paves the way to study the role of nuclear envelope proteins during breast cancer tumorigenesis.},
author = {Bersini, Simone and Lytle, Nikki K and Schulte, Roberta and Huang, Ling and Wahl, Geoffrey M and HETZER, Martin W},
issn = {2575-1077},
journal = {Life Science Alliance},
keywords = {Health, Toxicology and Mutagenesis, Plant Science, Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology (miscellaneous), Ecology},
number = {1},
publisher = {Life Science Alliance},
title = {{Nup93 regulates breast tumor growth by modulating cell proliferation and actin cytoskeleton remodeling}},
doi = {10.26508/lsa.201900623},
volume = {3},
year = {2020},
}
@article{8402,
abstract = {Background: The mitochondrial pyruvate carrier (MPC) plays a central role in energy metabolism by transporting pyruvate across the inner mitochondrial membrane. Its heterodimeric composition and homology to SWEET and semiSWEET transporters set the MPC apart from the canonical mitochondrial carrier family (named MCF or SLC25). The import of the canonical carriers is mediated by the carrier translocase of the inner membrane (TIM22) pathway and is dependent on their structure, which features an even number of transmembrane segments and both termini in the intermembrane space. The import pathway of MPC proteins has not been elucidated. The odd number of transmembrane segments and positioning of the N-terminus in the matrix argues against an import via the TIM22 carrier pathway but favors an import via the flexible presequence pathway.
Results: Here, we systematically analyzed the import pathways of Mpc2 and Mpc3 and report that, contrary to an expected import via the flexible presequence pathway, yeast MPC proteins with an odd number of transmembrane segments and matrix-exposed N-terminus are imported by the carrier pathway, using the receptor Tom70, small TIM chaperones, and the TIM22 complex. The TIM9·10 complex chaperones MPC proteins through the mitochondrial intermembrane space using conserved hydrophobic motifs that are also required for the interaction with canonical carrier proteins.
Conclusions: The carrier pathway can import paired and non-paired transmembrane helices and translocate N-termini to either side of the mitochondrial inner membrane, revealing an unexpected versatility of the mitochondrial import pathway for non-cleavable inner membrane proteins.},
author = {Rampelt, Heike and Sucec, Iva and Bersch, Beate and Horten, Patrick and Perschil, Inge and Martinou, Jean-Claude and van der Laan, Martin and Wiedemann, Nils and Schanda, Paul and Pfanner, Nikolaus},
issn = {1741-7007},
journal = {BMC Biology},
keywords = {Biotechnology, Plant Science, General Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology, Developmental Biology, Cell Biology, Physiology, Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics, Structural Biology, General Agricultural and Biological Sciences},
publisher = {Springer Nature},
title = {{The mitochondrial carrier pathway transports non-canonical substrates with an odd number of transmembrane segments}},
doi = {10.1186/s12915-019-0733-6},
volume = {18},
year = {2020},
}
@article{8529,
abstract = {Practical quantum networks require low-loss and noise-resilient optical interconnects as well as non-Gaussian resources for entanglement distillation and distributed quantum computation. The latter could be provided by superconducting circuits but existing solutions to interface the microwave and optical domains lack either scalability or efficiency, and in most cases the conversion noise is not known. In this work we utilize the unique opportunities of silicon photonics, cavity optomechanics and superconducting circuits to demonstrate a fully integrated, coherent transducer interfacing the microwave X and the telecom S bands with a total (internal) bidirectional transduction efficiency of 1.2% (135%) at millikelvin temperatures. The coupling relies solely on the radiation pressure interaction mediated by the femtometer-scale motion of two silicon nanobeams reaching a Vπ as low as 16 μV for sub-nanowatt pump powers. Without the associated optomechanical gain, we achieve a total (internal) pure conversion efficiency of up to 0.019% (1.6%), relevant for future noise-free operation on this qubit-compatible platform.},
author = {Arnold, Georg M and Wulf, Matthias and Barzanjeh, Shabir and Redchenko, Elena and Rueda Sanchez, Alfredo R and Hease, William J and Hassani, Farid and Fink, Johannes M},
issn = {2041-1723},
journal = {Nature Communications},
keywords = {General Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology, General Physics and Astronomy, General Chemistry},
publisher = {Springer Nature},
title = {{Converting microwave and telecom photons with a silicon photonic nanomechanical interface}},
doi = {10.1038/s41467-020-18269-z},
volume = {11},
year = {2020},
}
@article{8568,
abstract = {Aqueous iodine based electrochemical energy storage is considered a potential candidate to improve sustainability and performance of current battery and supercapacitor technology. It harnesses the redox activity of iodide, iodine, and polyiodide species in the confined geometry of nanoporous carbon electrodes. However, current descriptions of the electrochemical reaction mechanism to interconvert these species are elusive. Here we show that electrochemical oxidation of iodide in nanoporous carbons forms persistent solid iodine deposits. Confinement slows down dissolution into triiodide and pentaiodide, responsible for otherwise significant self-discharge via shuttling. The main tools for these insights are in situ Raman spectroscopy and in situ small and wide-angle X-ray scattering (in situ SAXS/WAXS). In situ Raman confirms the reversible formation of triiodide and pentaiodide. In situ SAXS/WAXS indicates remarkable amounts of solid iodine deposited in the carbon nanopores. Combined with stochastic modeling, in situ SAXS allows quantifying the solid iodine volume fraction and visualizing the iodine structure on 3D lattice models at the sub-nanometer scale. Based on the derived mechanism, we demonstrate strategies for improved iodine pore filling capacity and prevention of self-discharge, applicable to hybrid supercapacitors and batteries.},
author = {Prehal, Christian and Fitzek, Harald and Kothleitner, Gerald and Presser, Volker and Gollas, Bernhard and Freunberger, Stefan Alexander and Abbas, Qamar},
issn = {2041-1723},
journal = {Nature Communications},
keywords = {General Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology, General Physics and Astronomy, General Chemistry},
publisher = {Springer Nature},
title = {{Persistent and reversible solid iodine electrodeposition in nanoporous carbons}},
doi = {10.1038/s41467-020-18610-6},
volume = {11},
year = {2020},
}
@article{8592,
abstract = {Glioblastoma is the most malignant cancer in the brain and currently incurable. It is urgent to identify effective targets for this lethal disease. Inhibition of such targets should suppress the growth of cancer cells and, ideally also precancerous cells for early prevention, but minimally affect their normal counterparts. Using genetic mouse models with neural stem cells (NSCs) or oligodendrocyte precursor cells (OPCs) as the cells‐of‐origin/mutation, it is shown that the susceptibility of cells within the development hierarchy of glioma to the knockout of insulin‐like growth factor I receptor (IGF1R) is determined not only by their oncogenic states, but also by their cell identities/states. Knockout of IGF1R selectively disrupts the growth of mutant and transformed, but not normal OPCs, or NSCs. The desirable outcome of IGF1R knockout on cell growth requires the mutant cells to commit to the OPC identity regardless of its development hierarchical status. At the molecular level, oncogenic mutations reprogram the cellular network of OPCs and force them to depend more on IGF1R for their growth. A new‐generation brain‐penetrable, orally available IGF1R inhibitor harnessing tumor OPCs in the brain is also developed. The findings reveal the cellular window of IGF1R targeting and establish IGF1R as an effective target for the prevention and treatment of glioblastoma.},
author = {Tian, Anhao and Kang, Bo and Li, Baizhou and Qiu, Biying and Jiang, Wenhong and Shao, Fangjie and Gao, Qingqing and Liu, Rui and Cai, Chengwei and Jing, Rui and Wang, Wei and Chen, Pengxiang and Liang, Qinghui and Bao, Lili and Man, Jianghong and Wang, Yan and Shi, Yu and Li, Jin and Yang, Minmin and Wang, Lisha and Zhang, Jianmin and Hippenmeyer, Simon and Zhu, Junming and Bian, Xiuwu and Wang, Ying‐Jie and Liu, Chong},
issn = {2198-3844},
journal = {Advanced Science},
keywords = {General Engineering, General Physics and Astronomy, General Materials Science, Medicine (miscellaneous), General Chemical Engineering, Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology (miscellaneous)},
number = {21},
publisher = {Wiley},
title = {{Oncogenic state and cell identity combinatorially dictate the susceptibility of cells within glioma development hierarchy to IGF1R targeting}},
doi = {10.1002/advs.202001724},
volume = {7},
year = {2020},
}
@article{8744,
abstract = {Understanding the conformational sampling of translation-arrested ribosome nascent chain complexes is key to understand co-translational folding. Up to now, coupling of cysteine oxidation, disulfide bond formation and structure formation in nascent chains has remained elusive. Here, we investigate the eye-lens protein γB-crystallin in the ribosomal exit tunnel. Using mass spectrometry, theoretical simulations, dynamic nuclear polarization-enhanced solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance and cryo-electron microscopy, we show that thiol groups of cysteine residues undergo S-glutathionylation and S-nitrosylation and form non-native disulfide bonds. Thus, covalent modification chemistry occurs already prior to nascent chain release as the ribosome exit tunnel provides sufficient space even for disulfide bond formation which can guide protein folding.},
author = {Schulte, Linda and Mao, Jiafei and Reitz, Julian and Sreeramulu, Sridhar and Kudlinzki, Denis and Hodirnau, Victor-Valentin and Meier-Credo, Jakob and Saxena, Krishna and Buhr, Florian and Langer, Julian D. and Blackledge, Martin and Frangakis, Achilleas S. and Glaubitz, Clemens and Schwalbe, Harald},
issn = {2041-1723},
journal = {Nature Communications},
keywords = {General Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology, General Physics and Astronomy, General Chemistry},
publisher = {Springer Nature},
title = {{Cysteine oxidation and disulfide formation in the ribosomal exit tunnel}},
doi = {10.1038/s41467-020-19372-x},
volume = {11},
year = {2020},
}
@article{8971,
abstract = {The actin-related protein (Arp)2/3 complex nucleates branched actin filament networks pivotal for cell migration, endocytosis and pathogen infection. Its activation is tightly regulated and involves complex structural rearrangements and actin filament binding, which are yet to be understood. Here, we report a 9.0 Å resolution structure of the actin filament Arp2/3 complex branch junction in cells using cryo-electron tomography and subtomogram averaging. This allows us to generate an accurate model of the active Arp2/3 complex in the branch junction and its interaction with actin filaments. Notably, our model reveals a previously undescribed set of interactions of the Arp2/3 complex with the mother filament, significantly different to the previous branch junction model. Our structure also indicates a central role for the ArpC3 subunit in stabilizing the active conformation.},
author = {Fäßler, Florian and Dimchev, Georgi A and Hodirnau, Victor-Valentin and Wan, William and Schur, Florian KM},
issn = {2041-1723},
journal = {Nature Communications},
keywords = {General Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology, General Physics and Astronomy, General Chemistry},
publisher = {Springer Nature},
title = {{Cryo-electron tomography structure of Arp2/3 complex in cells reveals new insights into the branch junction}},
doi = {10.1038/s41467-020-20286-x},
volume = {11},
year = {2020},
}
@article{10348,
abstract = {The endosomal sorting complex required for transport-III (ESCRT-III) catalyzes membrane fission from within membrane necks, a process that is essential for many cellular functions, from cell division to lysosome degradation and autophagy. How it breaks membranes, though, remains unknown. Here, we characterize a sequential polymerization of ESCRT-III subunits that, driven by a recruitment cascade and by continuous subunit-turnover powered by the ATPase Vps4, induces membrane deformation and fission. During this process, the exchange of Vps24 for Did2 induces a tilt in the polymer-membrane interface, which triggers transition from flat spiral polymers to helical filament to drive the formation of membrane protrusions, and ends with the formation of a highly constricted Did2-Ist1 co-polymer that we show is competent to promote fission when bound on the inside of membrane necks. Overall, our results suggest a mechanism of stepwise changes in ESCRT-III filament structure and mechanical properties via exchange of the filament subunits to catalyze ESCRT-III activity.},
author = {Pfitzner, Anna-Katharina and Mercier, Vincent and Jiang, Xiuyun and Moser von Filseck, Joachim and Baum, Buzz and Šarić, Anđela and Roux, Aurélien},
issn = {0092-8674},
journal = {Cell},
keywords = {general biochemistry, genetics and molecular biology},
number = {5},
pages = {1140--1155.e18},
publisher = {Elsevier},
title = {{An ESCRT-III polymerization sequence drives membrane deformation and fission}},
doi = {10.1016/j.cell.2020.07.021},
volume = {182},
year = {2020},
}
@article{11060,
abstract = {The inner nuclear membrane (INM) is a subdomain of the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) that is gated by the nuclear pore complex. It is unknown whether proteins of the INM and ER are degraded through shared or distinct pathways in mammalian cells. We applied dynamic proteomics to profile protein half-lives and report that INM and ER residents turn over at similar rates, indicating that the INM’s unique topology is not a barrier to turnover. Using a microscopy approach, we observed that the proteasome can degrade INM proteins in situ. However, we also uncovered evidence for selective, vesicular transport-mediated turnover of a single INM protein, emerin, that is potentiated by ER stress. Emerin is rapidly cleared from the INM by a mechanism that requires emerin’s LEM domain to mediate vesicular trafficking to lysosomes. This work demonstrates that the INM can be dynamically remodeled in response to environmental inputs.},
author = {Buchwalter, Abigail and Schulte, Roberta and Tsai, Hsiao and Capitanio, Juliana and HETZER, Martin W},
issn = {2050-084X},
journal = {eLife},
keywords = {General Immunology and Microbiology, General Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology, General Medicine, General Neuroscience},
publisher = {eLife Sciences Publications},
title = {{Selective clearance of the inner nuclear membrane protein emerin by vesicular transport during ER stress}},
doi = {10.7554/elife.49796},
volume = {8},
year = {2019},
}
@article{8405,
abstract = {Atomic-resolution structure determination is crucial for understanding protein function. Cryo-EM and NMR spectroscopy both provide structural information, but currently cryo-EM does not routinely give access to atomic-level structural data, and, generally, NMR structure determination is restricted to small (<30 kDa) proteins. We introduce an integrated structure determination approach that simultaneously uses NMR and EM data to overcome the limits of each of these methods. The approach enables structure determination of the 468 kDa large dodecameric aminopeptidase TET2 to a precision and accuracy below 1 Å by combining secondary-structure information obtained from near-complete magic-angle-spinning NMR assignments of the 39 kDa-large subunits, distance restraints from backbone amides and ILV methyl groups, and a 4.1 Å resolution EM map. The resulting structure exceeds current standards of NMR and EM structure determination in terms of molecular weight and precision. Importantly, the approach is successful even in cases where only medium-resolution cryo-EM data are available.},
author = {Gauto, Diego F. and Estrozi, Leandro F. and Schwieters, Charles D. and Effantin, Gregory and Macek, Pavel and Sounier, Remy and Sivertsen, Astrid C. and Schmidt, Elena and Kerfah, Rime and Mas, Guillaume and Colletier, Jacques-Philippe and Güntert, Peter and Favier, Adrien and Schoehn, Guy and Schanda, Paul and Boisbouvier, Jerome},
issn = {2041-1723},
journal = {Nature Communications},
keywords = {General Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology, General Physics and Astronomy, General Chemistry},
publisher = {Springer Nature},
title = {{Integrated NMR and cryo-EM atomic-resolution structure determination of a half-megadalton enzyme complex}},
doi = {10.1038/s41467-019-10490-9},
volume = {10},
year = {2019},
}
@article{9060,
abstract = {Molecular motors are essential to the living, generating fluctuations that boost transport and assist assembly. Active colloids, that consume energy to move, hold similar potential for man-made materials controlled by forces generated from within. Yet, their use as a powerhouse in materials science lacks. Here we show a massive acceleration of the annealing of a monolayer of passive beads by moderate addition of self-propelled microparticles. We rationalize our observations with a model of collisions that drive active fluctuations and activate the annealing. The experiment is quantitatively compared with Brownian dynamic simulations that further unveil a dynamical transition in the mechanism of annealing. Active dopants travel uniformly in the system or co-localize at the grain boundaries as a result of the persistence of their motion. Our findings uncover the potential of internal activity to control materials and lay the groundwork for the rise of materials science beyond equilibrium.},
author = {Ramananarivo, Sophie and Ducrot, Etienne and Palacci, Jérémie A},
issn = {2041-1723},
journal = {Nature Communications},
keywords = {General Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology, General Physics and Astronomy, General Chemistry},
number = {1},
publisher = {Springer Nature},
title = {{Activity-controlled annealing of colloidal monolayers}},
doi = {10.1038/s41467-019-11362-y},
volume = {10},
year = {2019},
}
@article{12190,
abstract = {Meiotic crossover frequency varies within genomes, which influences genetic diversity and adaptation. In turn, genetic variation within populations can act to modify crossover frequency in cis and trans. To identify genetic variation that controls meiotic crossover frequency, we screened Arabidopsis accessions using fluorescent recombination reporters. We mapped a genetic modifier of crossover frequency in Col × Bur populations of Arabidopsis to a premature stop codon within TBP-ASSOCIATED FACTOR 4b (TAF4b), which encodes a subunit of the RNA polymerase II general transcription factor TFIID. The Arabidopsis taf4b mutation is a rare variant found in the British Isles, originating in South-West Ireland. Using genetics, genomics, and immunocytology, we demonstrate a genome-wide decrease in taf4b crossovers, with strongest reduction in the sub-telomeric regions. Using RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) from purified meiocytes, we show that TAF4b expression is meiocyte enriched, whereas its paralog TAF4 is broadly expressed. Consistent with the role of TFIID in promoting gene expression, RNA-seq of wild-type and taf4b meiocytes identified widespread transcriptional changes, including in genes that regulate the meiotic cell cycle and recombination. Therefore, TAF4b duplication is associated with acquisition of meiocyte-specific expression and promotion of germline transcription, which act directly or indirectly to elevate crossovers. This identifies a novel mode of meiotic recombination control via a general transcription factor.},
author = {Lawrence, Emma J. and Gao, Hongbo and Tock, Andrew J. and Lambing, Christophe and Blackwell, Alexander R. and Feng, Xiaoqi and Henderson, Ian R.},
issn = {0960-9822},
journal = {Current Biology},
keywords = {General Agricultural and Biological Sciences, General Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology},
number = {16},
pages = {2676--2686.e3},
publisher = {Elsevier BV},
title = {{Natural variation in TBP-ASSOCIATED FACTOR 4b controls meiotic crossover and germline transcription in Arabidopsis}},
doi = {10.1016/j.cub.2019.06.084},
volume = {29},
year = {2019},
}
@article{12192,
abstract = {Transposable elements (TEs), the movement of which can damage the genome, are epigenetically silenced in eukaryotes. Intriguingly, TEs are activated in the sperm companion cell – vegetative cell (VC) – of the flowering plant Arabidopsis thaliana. However, the extent and mechanism of this activation are unknown. Here we show that about 100 heterochromatic TEs are activated in VCs, mostly by DEMETER-catalyzed DNA demethylation. We further demonstrate that DEMETER access to some of these TEs is permitted by the natural depletion of linker histone H1 in VCs. Ectopically expressed H1 suppresses TEs in VCs by reducing DNA demethylation and via a methylation-independent mechanism. We demonstrate that H1 is required for heterochromatin condensation in plant cells and show that H1 overexpression creates heterochromatic foci in the VC progenitor cell. Taken together, our results demonstrate that the natural depletion of H1 during male gametogenesis facilitates DEMETER-directed DNA demethylation, heterochromatin relaxation, and TE activation.},
author = {He, Shengbo and Vickers, Martin and Zhang, Jingyi and Feng, Xiaoqi},
issn = {2050-084X},
journal = {eLife},
keywords = {General Immunology and Microbiology, General Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology, General Medicine, General Neuroscience},
publisher = {eLife Sciences Publications, Ltd},
title = {{Natural depletion of histone H1 in sex cells causes DNA demethylation, heterochromatin decondensation and transposon activation}},
doi = {10.7554/elife.42530},
volume = {8},
year = {2019},
}
@article{8436,
abstract = {The exchange of metabolites between the mitochondrial matrix and the cytosol depends on β-barrel channels in the outer membrane and α-helical carrier proteins in the inner membrane. The essential translocase of the inner membrane (TIM) chaperones escort these proteins through the intermembrane space, but the structural and mechanistic details remain elusive. We have used an integrated structural biology approach to reveal the functional principle of TIM chaperones. Multiple clamp-like binding sites hold the mitochondrial membrane proteins in a translocation-competent elongated form, thus mimicking characteristics of co-translational membrane insertion. The bound preprotein undergoes conformational dynamics within the chaperone binding clefts, pointing to a multitude of dynamic local binding events. Mutations in these binding sites cause cell death or growth defects associated with impairment of carrier and β-barrel protein biogenesis. Our work reveals how a single mitochondrial “transfer-chaperone” system is able to guide α-helical and β-barrel membrane proteins in a “nascent chain-like” conformation through a ribosome-free compartment.},
author = {Weinhäupl, Katharina and Lindau, Caroline and Hessel, Audrey and Wang, Yong and Schütze, Conny and Jores, Tobias and Melchionda, Laura and Schönfisch, Birgit and Kalbacher, Hubert and Bersch, Beate and Rapaport, Doron and Brennich, Martha and Lindorff-Larsen, Kresten and Wiedemann, Nils and Schanda, Paul},
issn = {0092-8674},
journal = {Cell},
keywords = {General Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology},
number = {5},
pages = {1365--1379.e25},
publisher = {Elsevier},
title = {{Structural basis of membrane protein chaperoning through the mitochondrial intermembrane space}},
doi = {10.1016/j.cell.2018.10.039},
volume = {175},
year = {2018},
}
@article{13374,
abstract = {Confining molecules to volumes only slightly larger than the molecules themselves can profoundly alter their properties. Molecular switches—entities that can be toggled between two or more forms upon exposure to an external stimulus—often require conformational freedom to isomerize. Therefore, placing these switches in confined spaces can render them non-operational. To preserve the switchability of these species under confinement, we work with a water-soluble coordination cage that is flexible enough to adapt its shape to the conformation of the encapsulated guest. We show that owing to its flexibility, the cage is not only capable of accommodating—and solubilizing in water—several light-responsive spiropyran-based molecular switches, but, more importantly, it also provides an environment suitable for the efficient, reversible photoisomerization of the bound guests. Our findings pave the way towards studying various molecular switching processes in confined environments.},
author = {Samanta, Dipak and Galaktionova, Daria and Gemen, Julius and Shimon, Linda J. W. and Diskin-Posner, Yael and Avram, Liat and Král, Petr and Klajn, Rafal},
issn = {2041-1723},
journal = {Nature Communications},
keywords = {General Physics and Astronomy, General Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology, General Chemistry, Multidisciplinary},
publisher = {Springer Nature},
title = {{Reversible chromism of spiropyran in the cavity of a flexible coordination cage}},
doi = {10.1038/s41467-017-02715-6},
volume = {9},
year = {2018},
}