Anchor proteins

Gene expression networks associated with placebo effects are understudied; in this study, we identified transcriptomic profiles associated with placebo responsivity. Participants suffering from chronic pain underwent a verbal suggestion and conditioning paradigm with individually tailored thermal painful stimulations to elicit conditioned placebo effects. Participants reported pain intensity on a visual analog scale (VAS) anchored from zero = no pain to 100 = maximum imaginable pain...

Blood orange (BO) is a rare red-fleshed sweet orange (SWO) with a high anthocyanin content and is associated with numerous health-related benefits. Here, we reported a high-quality chromosome-scale genome assembly for Neixiu (NX) BO, reaching 336.63 Mb in length with contig and scaffold N50 values of 30.6 Mb. Furthermore, 96% of the assembled sequences were successfully anchored to 9 pseudo-chromosomes. The genome assembly also revealed the presence of 37.87% transposon elements and 7.64% tandem repeats, and the annotation of 30,395 protein-coding genes...

Oriental tobacco budworm (Helicoverpa assulta) and cotton bollworm (Helicoverpa armigera) are two closely related species within the genus Helicoverpa. They have similar appearances and consistent damage patterns, often leading to confusion. However, the cotton bollworm is a typical polyphagous insect, while the oriental tobacco budworm belongs to the oligophagous insects. In this study, we used Nanopore, PacBio, and Illumina platforms to sequence the genome of H. assulta and used Hifiasm to create a haplotype-resolved draft genome...

The endosomal sorting complexes required for transport (ESCRTs) are responsible for membrane remodeling in many cellular processes, such as multivesicular body biogenesis, viral budding, and cytokinetic abscission. ESCRT-III, the most abundant ESCRT subunit, assembles into flat spirals as the primed state, essential to initiate membrane invagination. However, the three-dimensional architecture of ESCRT-III flat spirals remained vague for decades due to highly curved filaments with a small diameter and a single preferred orientation on the membrane...

The milky mangrove Excoecaria agallocha is a latex-secreting mangrove that are distributed in tropical and subtropical regions. While its poisonous latex is regarded as a potential source of phytochemicals for biomedical applications, the genomic resources of E. agallocha remains limited. Here, we present a chromosomal level genome of E. agallocha , assembled from the combination of PacBio long-read sequencing and Omni-C data. The resulting assembly size is 1,332.45 Mb and has high contiguity and completeness with a scaffold N50 of 58...

The long-spined sea urchin Diadema setosum is an algal and coral feeder widely distributed in the Indo-Pacific that can cause severe bioerosion on the reef community. However, the lack of genomic information has hindered the study of its ecology and evolution. Here, we report the chromosomal-level genome (885.8 Mb) of the long-spined sea urchin D. setosum using a combination of PacBio long-read sequencing and Omni-C scaffolding technology. The assembled genome contains a scaffold N50 length of 38.3 Mb, 98...

The golden birdwing Troides aeacus (Lepidoptera, Papilionidae), a significant species in Asia, faces habitat loss due to urbanization and human activities, necessitating its protection. However, the lack of genomic resources hinders our understanding of their biology and diversity, and impedes our conservation efforts based on genetic information or markers. Here, we present the first chromosomal-level genome assembly of T. aeacus using PacBio SMRT and Omni-C scaffolding technologies. The assembled genome (351 Mb) contains 98...

Human aromatase (CYP19A1), the cytochrome P450 enzyme responsible for conversion of androgens to estrogens, was incorporated into lipoprotein nanodiscs (NDs) and interrogated by small angle X-ray and neutron scattering (SAXS/SANS). CYP19A1 was associated with the surface and centered at the edge of the long axis of the ND membrane. In the absence of the N-terminal anchor, the amphipathic A'- and G'-helices were predominately buried in the lipid head groups, with the possibly that their hydrophobic side chains protrude into the hydrophobic, aliphatic tails...

Ubiquitin-specific protease 7 (USP7) is a deubiquitinase enzyme that plays a critical role in regulating various cellular processes by cleaving ubiquitin molecules from target proteins. The C-terminal loop (CTL) motif is a specific region at the C-terminal end of the USP7 enzyme. Recent experiments suggest that the CTL motif plays a role in USP7's catalytic activity by contributing to the enzyme's structural stability, substrate recognition, and catalytic efficiency. The objective of this work is to elucidate these roles through the utilization of computational methods for molecular simulations...

Cinnamomum chago is a tree species endemic to Yunnan province, China, with potential economic value, phylogenetic importance, and conservation priority. We assembled the genome of C. chago using multiple sequencing technologies, resulting in a high-quality, chromosomal-level genome with annotation information. The assembled genome size is approximately 1.06 Gb, with a contig N50 length of 92.10 Mb. About 99.92% of the assembled sequences could be anchored to 12 pseudo-chromosomes, with only one gap, and 63...

To develop natural complex materials as starch-dominated emulsifiers, pregelatinization was conducted on potato flour. The effects of gelatinization degrees (GDs, 0 %-50 %) on the structural characteristics, physicochemical properties, and emulsifying potentials of potato flour were investigated. Increasing GD of potato flour promoted protein aggregation on starch granules surfaces and transformed starch semicrystalline structures into melted networks. The emulsion stabilized with 50 % GD potato flour exhibited excellent storage stability (7 d) and gel-like behavior...

In this report, we structurally and biochemically characterized the unknown gene product SP1746 from Streptococcus pneumoniae serotype 4. Various crystal structures of SP1746 in the apo form and in complex with different nucleotides were determined. SP1746 is a globular protein, which belongs to the histidine-aspartate (HD) domain superfamily with two Fe3+ ions in the active site that are coordinated by key active site residues and water molecules. All nucleotides bind in a similar orientation in the active site with their phosphate groups anchored to the diiron cluster...

The Rib domain, which is often found as tandem-repeat structural modules in surface proteins of Gram-positive bacteria, plays important roles in mediating interactions of bacteria with their environments and hosts. A comprehensive structural analysis of various Rib domains is essential to fully understand their impact on the structure and functionality of these bacterial adhesins. To date, structural information has been limited for this expansive group of domains. In this study, the high-resolution crystal structure of the second member of the long Rib domain, a unique subclass within the Rib-domain family, derived from Limosilactobacillus reuteri is presented...

An electrochemical microsensor for mesothelin (MSLN) based on an acupuncture needle (AN) was constructed in this work. To prepare the microsensor, MSLN was self-assembled on 4-mercaptophenylboronic acid (4-MPBA) by an interaction force between the external cis -diol and phenylboronic acid. This was followed by the gradual electropolymerization of thionine (TH) and eriochrome black T (EBT) around the anchored protein. The thickness of the surface imprinted layers influenced the sensing performance and needed to be smaller than the height of the anchored protein...

Background: Dormant ribosomes are typically associated with preservation factors to protect themselves from degradation under stress conditions. Stm1/SERBP1 is one such protein that anchors the 40S and 60S subunits together. Several proteins and tRNAs bind to this complex as well, yet the molecular mechanisms remain unclear. Methods: Here, we reported the cryo-EM structures of five newly identified Stm1/SERBP1-bound ribosomes. Results: These structures highlighted that eIF5A, eEF2, and tRNA might bind to dormant ribosomes under stress to avoid their own degradation, thus facilitating protein synthesis upon the restoration of growth conditions...

The Bethylidae are the most diverse of Hymenoptera chrysidoid families. As external parasitoids, the bethylids have been widely adopted as biocontrol agents to control insect pests worldwide. Thus far, the genomic information of the family Bethylidae has not been reported yet. In this study, we crystallized into a high-quality chromosome-level genome of ant-like bethylid wasps Sclerodermus sp. 'alternatusi' (Hymenoptera: Bethylidae) using PacBio sequencing as well as Hi-C technology. The assembled S. alternatusi genome was 162...

Iron accumulation has been associated with the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative diseases and memory decline. As previously described by our research group, iron overload in the neonatal period induces persistent memory deficits and increases oxidative stress and apoptotic markers. The neuronal insult caused by iron excess generates an energetic imbalance that can alter glutamate concentrations and thus trigger excitotoxicity. Drugs that block glutamatergic receptor eligibly mitigate neurotoxicity; among them is perampanel (PER), a reversible AMPA receptor (AMPAR) antagonist...

The 3-ketoacyl-CoA thiolase is the rate-limiting enzyme for linear dicarboxylic acids production. However, the promiscuous substrate specificity and suboptimal catalytic performance have restricted its application. Here we present both biochemical and structural analyses of a high-efficiency 3-ketoacyl-CoA thiolase Tfu_0875. Notably, Tfu_0875 displayed heightened activity and substrate specificity for succinyl-CoA, a key precursor in adipic acid production. To enhance its performance, a deep learning approach (DLKcat) was employed to identify effective mutants, and a computational strategy, known as the greedy accumulated strategy for protein engineering (GRAPE), was used to accumulate these effective mutants...

Neuropathic pain (NPP) remains a clinically challenging condition, driven by the activation of spinal astrocytes and the complex release of inflammatory mediators. This study aimed to examine the roles of Rab8a and SNARE complex proteins in activated astrocytes to uncover the underlying mechanisms of NPP. The research was conducted using a rat model with chronic constriction injury (CCI) of the sciatic nerve and primary astrocytes treated with lipopolysaccharide. Enhanced expression of Rab8a was noted specifically in spinal dorsal horn astrocytes through immunofluorescence...

Intellectual disability is characterized by impairment in at least two of the following areas: social skills, communication skills, self-care tasks, and academic skills. These impairments are evaluated in relation to the expected standards based on the individual's age and cultural levels. Additionally, intellectual disability is typically defined by a measurable level of intellectual functioning, represented by an intelligence quotients core of 70 or below. Autism spectrum disorder is a developmental disability resulting from differences in the brain, often characterized by problems in social communication and interaction, and limited or repetitive behaviors or interests...