A saturation-mutagenesis analysis of the interplay between stability and activation in Ras.

Cancer mutations in Ras occur predominantly at three hotspots: Gly 12, Gly 13, and Gln 61. Previously, we reported that deep mutagenesis of H-Ras using a bacterial assay identified many other activating mutations (Bandaru et al., 2017).

Environment and coordination of FeMo-co in the nitrogenase metallochaperone NafY.

In nitrogenase biosynthesis, the iron-molybdenum cofactor (FeMo-co) is externally assembled at scaffold proteins and delivered to the NifDK nitrogenase component by the NafY metallochaperone. Here we have used nuclear magnetic resonance, molecular dynamics, and functional analysis to elucidate the environment and coordination of FeMo-co in NafY. H stands as the key FeMo-co ligand.

Grassroots Efforts To Quantify and Improve the Academic Climate of an R1 STEM Department: Using Evidence-Based Discussions To Foster Community.

Women and some racial and ethnic groups remain underrepresented in chemistry departments across the United States, and generally, efforts to improve representation have resulted in minimal or no improvements in the last 10 years. Here, we present the outcomes of a graduate-student-led initiative that sought to assess the issues affecting inclusivity, diversity, and wellness within the Department of Chemistry at the University of California, Berkeley. We report how the results of a department-tailored academic climate survey were used to develop a method to foster open, productive discussion among graduate students, postdoctoral researchers, and faculty.

Directly Functionalized Cucurbit[7]uril as a Biosensor for the Selective Detection of Protein Interactions by Xe hyperCEST NMR.

Advancement of hyperpolarized Xe MRI technology toward clinical settings demonstrates the considerable interest in this modality for diagnostic imaging. The number of contrast agents, termed biosensors, for Xe MRI that respond to specific biological targets, has grown and diversified. Directly functionalized xenon-carrying macrocycles, such as the large family of cryptophane-based biosensors, are good for localization-based imaging and provide contrast before and after binding events occur.