Publications by authors named "C Gatsogiannis"
Article Synopsis
- The black widow spider's venom contains a range of neurotoxic latrotoxins (LTXs), with the most significant one being α-LTX, which affects vertebrates by disrupting neurotransmitter release at nerve terminals.
- α-LTX is composed of multiple structural domains and functions by forming tetramers that create calcium-conductive pores in the presynaptic membrane, although the exact mechanism is not fully understood.
- New cryo-electron microscopy (cryoEM) studies reveal structural changes in α-LTX that allow it to insert into membranes and form cation-permeable channels, providing insights that could lead to new medical and technological advancements.
UapA is an extensively studied elevator-type purine transporter from the model fungus . Determination of a 3.6Å inward-facing crystal structure lacking the cytoplasmic N-and C-tails, molecular dynamics (MD), and functional studies have led to speculative models of its transport mechanism and determination of substrate specificity.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe accumulation of translocation intermediates in the mitochondrial import machinery threatens cellular fitness and is associated with cancer and neurodegeneration. A recent study by Weidberg and colleagues identifies ATAD1 as an ATP-driven extraction machine on the mitochondrial surface that pulls precursors into the cytosol to prevent clogging of mitochondrial import pores.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFArticle Synopsis
- Tubulin is a key component of the cytoskeleton and has various isotypes in animals, but it's unclear how these isotypes influence microtubule structures in different cell types.
- Research on 12 patients with primary ciliary dyskinesia and mouse models uncovered variants in the tubulin isotype that disrupted the formation of centrioles and cilia, impacting microtubule dynamics.
- The study identified different variants causing distinct effects on tubulin interactions, allowing for the classification of patients into three types of ciliopathic diseases, highlighting the unique roles of specific tubulin isotypes in cellular functions.
The double-ring AAA+ ATPase Pex1/Pex6 is required for peroxisomal receptor recycling and is essential for peroxisome formation. Pex1/Pex6 mutations cause severe peroxisome associated developmental disorders. Despite its pathophysiological importance, mechanistic details of the heterohexamer are not yet available.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF