Publications
Topic feedStudy reveals how replication protein A prevents unregulated DNA synthesis and maintains genome stability
Researchers using Xenopus egg extracts found that replication protein A (RPA) prevents spontaneous DNA priming on single-stranded DNA and blocks inappropriate recruitment of recombination factors. RPA is a critical DNA-binding protein that becomes depleted when cells produce excess single-stranded DNA, potentially leading to replication fork breakage. The findings clarify RPA's protective role in maintaining genome stability and suggest mechanisms by which RPA depletion could trigger genomic instability.
Study reveals mammalian RNA localization elements are large, complex, and multipartite structures
Researchers systematically analyzed tens of thousands of mutant RNA localization elements and found that functional elements controlling subcellular RNA positioning are approximately 200 nucleotides in size and contain multiple critical subsequences. The study used high-throughput mutagenesis in neuronal cells and verified findings with single-molecule microscopy in primary rat neurons. These findings advance understanding of how cells control RNA distribution, which is fundamental to cellular function and may have implications for developmental biology and disease mechanisms.
Leritrelvir Shows Enhanced Activity Against Drug-Resistant SARS-CoV-2 Variants, Study Finds
A new study demonstrates that leritrelvir, an antiviral drug approved in China, maintains stronger inhibitory activity against drug-resistant variants of the SARS-CoV-2 main protease compared to nirmatrelvir (used in Paxlovid). The research used biochemical, structural, and cellular analyses to show that leritrelvir binding restores the dimerization of protease mutants that have developed resistance to current treatments. The findings suggest leritrelvir could be a more effective treatment option as the virus continues to evolve resistance to existing antivirals.
Study Reveals How ATP Concentration Controls Myosin-Driven Remodeling of Actin Networks
Researchers used purified actomyosin components and advanced microrheology techniques to show that myosin II activity drives actin networks out of thermal equilibrium, with peak nonequilibrium activity occurring at intermediate ATP concentrations (0.2-0.5 mM). The study demonstrates that myosin-driven remodeling involves rare cage rearrangements that can be detected through mean back relaxation (MBR) analysis, a technique that reveals time-irreversible dynamics. These findings establish MBR as a sensitive tool for studying active matter behavior in cytoskeletal systems and suggest a trade-off between ATP-dependent stiffening and myosin-driven network remodeling.
Study Reveals Regulatory Mechanisms of AMP Deaminase-2 in Fructose and Nucleotide Metabolism
Researchers successfully expressed and purified human AMP deaminase-2 (hAMPD2-2) and characterized how ATP, GTP, and phosphate regulate its activity in fructose metabolism. The enzyme plays a key role in a metabolic pathway that produces uric acid, which is linked to gout, metabolic acidosis, and mitochondrial dysfunction. Understanding these regulatory mechanisms could enable development of targeted therapies to reduce harmful uric acid accumulation.
Molecular Simulation Study Reveals How Propolis Compounds Cross the Blood-Brain Barrier
Researchers used all-atom molecular dynamics simulations to study how two compounds derived from propolis—CAPE and Artepillin-C—cross the blood-brain barrier. CAPE showed favorable permeability with low energy barriers, while Artepillin-C faced substantial resistance and poor permeability. The findings provide mechanistic insights that could guide the design of neurotherapeutic drugs.
Study Links Host Genetics and Cecal Microbiota to Muscle Growth in Meat Rabbits
Researchers analyzed genetic and microbial data from 321 meat rabbits to identify how host genes and gut bacteria influence loin muscle weight, a key carcass trait. The cecum's microbial community explained 13% of muscle weight variation, with specific bacteria like Methanosphaera showing negative associations and host genes near MEX3C, TCF4, and GJB3 identified as candidate regulators. These findings suggest potential targets for improving meat rabbit production through genetics and microbiome-informed nutrition.
Multi-omics Study Identifies Major Sources of Variability in iPSC-Derived Neurons for Disease Modeling
Researchers analyzed induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) differentiated into neurons across six molecular layers to identify sources of variability that limit their use as disease models. The study found that clonal variability was comparable to differences between patients, with neuronal differentiation state and metabolic activity being the dominant contributors to variation. These findings provide guidelines for improving iPSC-based disease modeling and biomarker discovery by accounting for and minimizing identified sources of variability.
Study reveals how β-catenin's dual roles in cell signaling and junctions regulate intestinal tissue health
Researchers found that β-catenin, a protein with two distinct functions in intestinal cells, must balance its roles in Wnt signaling and cell-cell junctions to maintain tissue integrity. The study used intestinal organoids to show that disrupting either function causes tissue damage and loss of proper organization. This discovery could inform understanding of how dysregulation of these processes contributes to cancer and other intestinal diseases.
Mimiviral Polymerase X Enables Rapid, Sequence-Specific DNA Detection
Researchers demonstrated a DNA detection method using mimiviral polymerase X (mvPolX), which displaces DNA strands without exonuclease activity to trigger fluorescent signals. The method achieved high specificity, detecting single nucleotide mismatches, and can identify as few as 10 copies of target DNA in 15 minutes at 30°C. This approach could enable faster, more sensitive diagnostic applications for pathogen detection and genetic screening.
CXCL10 Signaling Drives Chronic Inflammation in Arthritogenic Alphavirus Infections
Researchers identified that CXCL10-driven STAT3 signaling promotes pathogenic CD4+ T cell responses during arthritogenic alphavirus infections (including chikungunya and Mayaro viruses), limiting antiviral immunity. This mechanism was demonstrated across multiple alphaviruses in an age-stratified mouse model and involves skewed T cell differentiation that favors inflammation over viral clearance. Understanding this pathway could inform therapeutic strategies to reduce chronic joint disease caused by these viruses.
New Framework Operationalizes Gut Microbiome Health and Disease States Through Functional Analysis
Researchers introduced TAGMOS, a computational pipeline that decomposes the human gut microbiome into functional components to operationally define eubiosis (healthy state) and dysbiosis (disease state) in ways that transfer across populations and platforms. The framework was validated across 18,138 metagenomes from 92 studies and identified disease-specific microbial signatures for colorectal cancer, type-2 diabetes, and cardiovascular disease. This addresses a two-decade challenge in microbiome research by providing a standardized, clinically actionable classification system that outperforms conventional diversity metrics.