Multivalent Recruitment of Human Argonaute by GW182.

In miRNA-mediated gene silencing, the physical interaction between human Argonaute (hAgo) and GW182 (hGW182) is essential for facilitating the downstream silencing of the targeted mRNA. GW182 can interact with hAgo via three of the GW/WG repeats in its Argonaute-binding domain: motif-1, motif-2, and the hook motif. The structure of hAgo1 in complex with the hook motif of hGW182 reveals a "gate"-like interaction that is critical for GW182 docking into one of hAgo1's tryptophan-binding pockets.

Multi-domain utilization by TUT4 and TUT7 in control of let-7 biogenesis.

The uridyl transferases TUT4 and TUT7 (collectively called TUT4(7)) switch between two modes of activity, either promoting expression of let-7 microRNA (monoU) or marking it for degradation (oligoU). Lin28 modulates the switch via recruitment of TUT4(7) to the precursor pre-let-7 in stem cells and human cancers. We found that TUT4(7) utilize two multidomain functional modules during the switch from monoU to oligoU.

PTEN functions by recruitment to cytoplasmic vesicles.

PTEN is proposed to function at the plasma membrane, where receptor tyrosine kinases are activated. However, the majority of PTEN is located throughout the cytoplasm. Here, we show that cytoplasmic PTEN is distributed along microtubules, tethered to vesicles via phosphatidylinositol 3-phosphate (PI(3)P), the signature lipid of endosomes.

Mechanism of Dis3l2 substrate recognition in the Lin28-let-7 pathway.

The pluripotency factor Lin28 inhibits the biogenesis of the let-7 family of mammalian microRNAs. Lin28 is highly expressed in embryonic stem cells and has a fundamental role in regulation of development, glucose metabolism and tissue regeneration. Overexpression of Lin28 is correlated with the onset of numerous cancers, whereas let-7, a tumour suppressor, silences several human oncogenes.

The making of a slicer: activation of human Argonaute-1.

Argonautes are the central protein component in small RNA silencing pathways. Of the four human Argonautes (hAgo1-hAgo4) only hAgo2 is an active slicer. We determined the structure of hAgo1 bound to endogenous copurified RNAs to 1.

The catalytic machinery of a key enzyme in amino Acid biosynthesis.

The aspartate pathway of amino acid biosynthesis is essential for all microbial life but is absent in mammals. Characterizing the enzyme-catalyzed reactions in this pathway can identify new protein targets for the development of antibiotics with unique modes of action. The enzyme aspartate β-semialdehyde dehydrogenase (ASADH) catalyzes an early branch point reaction in the aspartate pathway.

Structural characterization of inhibitors with selectivity against members of a homologous enzyme family.

The aspartate biosynthetic pathway provides essential metabolites for many important biological functions, including the production of four essential amino acids. As this critical pathway is only present in plants and microbes, any disruptions will be fatal to these organisms. An early pathway enzyme, l-aspartate-β-semialdehyde dehydrogenase, produces a key intermediate at the first branch point of this pathway.

Argonaute MID domain takes centre stage.

Two recent papers, one in EMBO and one in Nature give us the first eukaryotic structures of Argonaute MID domains; providing a structural basis for the 5′-nucleotide recognition of the guide strand and a possible explanation for the allosteric regulation of RNA binding.

The structure of a redundant enzyme: a second isoform of aspartate beta-semialdehyde dehydrogenase in Vibrio cholerae.

Aspartate-beta-semialdehyde dehydrogenase (ASADH) is an essential enzyme that is found in bacteria, fungi and plants but not in humans. ASADH produces the first branch-point metabolite in the biosynthetic pathways that lead to the production of lysine, threonine, methionine and isoleucine as well as the cell-wall precursor diaminopimelate. As a consequence, ASADH appears to be an excellent target for the development of novel antibiotics, especially for Gram-negative bacteria that require diaminopimelate for cell-wall biosynthesis.

Argonautes confront new small RNAs.

Argonaute is at the heart of all effector complexes in RNA interference. In the classical RNAi pathway Argonaute functions as the Slicer enzyme that cleaves an mRNA target directed by a complementary siRNA. Two recently described Argonaute protein subfamilies mediate distinct functions in RNAi.

The initial step in the archaeal aspartate biosynthetic pathway catalyzed by a monofunctional aspartokinase.

The activation of the beta-carboxyl group of aspartate catalyzed by aspartokinase is the commitment step to amino-acid biosynthesis in the aspartate pathway. The first structure of a microbial aspartokinase, that from Methanococcus jannaschii, has been determined in the presence of the amino-acid substrate L-aspartic acid and the nucleotide product MgADP. The enzyme assembles into a dimer of dimers, with the interfaces mediated by both the N- and C-terminal domains.

Examination of key intermediates in the catalytic cycle of aspartate-beta-semialdehyde dehydrogenase from a gram-positive infectious bacteria.

Aspartate-beta-semialdehyde dehydrogenase (ASADH) catalyzes a critical branch point transformation in amino acid bio-synthesis. The products of the aspartate pathway are essential in microorganisms, and this entire pathway is absent in mammals, making this enzyme an attractive target for antibiotic development. The first structure of an ASADH from a Gram-positive bacterium, Streptococcus pneumoniae, has now been determined.

A new branch in the family: structure of aspartate-beta-semialdehyde dehydrogenase from Methanococcus jannaschii.

The structure of aspartate-beta-semialdehyde dehydrogenase (ASADH) from Methanococcus jannaschii has been determined to 2.3 angstroms resolution using multiwavelength anomalous diffraction (MAD) phasing of a selenomethionine-substituted derivative to define a new branch in the family of ASADHs. This new structure has a similar overall fold and domain organization despite less than 10% conserved sequence identity with the bacterial enzymes.

A rapid method for the purification of methanol dehydrogenase from Methylobacterium extorquens.

Methanol dehydrogenase (MDH) is a water soluble quinoprotein that catalyzes the oxidation of methanol as an important carbon source in methylotrophic bacteria. A rapid method for the purification of MDH from Methylobacterium extorquens AM1 was developed using a single cation exchange chromatographic step, followed by ultrafiltration for final purification, enzyme concentration, and buffer exchange. MDH was obtained in an excellent overall yield with a final enzyme purity of greater than 97%.

Structural basis for discrimination between oxyanion substrates or inhibitors in aspartate-beta-semialdehyde dehydrogenase.

The reversible dephosphorylation of beta-aspartyl phosphate to L-aspartate-beta-semialdehyde (ASA) in the aspartate biosynthetic pathway is catalyzed by aspartate-beta-semialdehyde dehydrogenase (ASADH). The phosphate that is present to activate the aspartate carboxyl group is held in a separate and distinct binding site once removed and prior to its release from the enzyme. This site had been shown to be selective for tetrahedral oxyanions, with several competitive inhibitors and alternative substrates previously identified for the reverse reaction.

Critical catalytic functional groups in the mechanism of aspartate-beta-semialdehyde dehydrogenase.

Aspartate-beta-semialdehyde dehydrogenase (ASADH) catalyzes the reductive dephosphorylation of beta-aspartyl phosphate to L-aspartate-beta-semialdehyde in the aspartate biosynthetic pathway. This pathway is not found in humans or other eukaryotic organisms, yet is required for the production of threonine, isoleucine, methionine and lysine in most microorganisms. The mechanism of this enzyme has been examined through the structures of two active-site mutants of ASADH from Haemophilus influenzae.

The role of substrate-binding groups in the mechanism of aspartate-beta-semialdehyde dehydrogenase.

The reversible dephosphorylation of beta-aspartyl phosphate to L-aspartate-beta-semialdehyde (ASA) in the aspartate biosynthetic pathway is catalyzed by aspartate-beta-semialdehyde dehydrogenase (ASADH). The product of this reaction is a key intermediate in the biosynthesis of diaminopimelic acid, an integral component of bacterial cell walls and a metabolic precursor of lysine and also a precursor in the biosynthesis of threonine, isoleucine and methionine. The structures of selected Haemophilus influenzae ASADH mutants were determined in order to evaluate the residues that are proposed to interact with the substrates ASA or phosphate.

Purification and preliminary characterization of brain aspartoacylase.

Aspartoacylase catalyzes the deacetylation of N-acetylaspartic acid (NAA) in the brain to produce acetate and L-aspartate. An aspartoacylase deficiency, with concomitant accumulation of NAA, is responsible for Canavan disease, a lethal autosomal recessive disorder. To examine the mechanism of this enzyme the genes encoding murine and human aspartoacylase were cloned and expressed in Escherichia coli.