Publications by authors named "G N Howells"

Article Synopsis
  • - The proteasome is essential for maintaining cellular balance by breaking down damaged or unnecessary proteins, and its regulation—especially through proteins with the HbYX motif—is crucial for understanding its function.
  • - ProEnd is a new database created to identify and catalog proteins containing the HbYX motif from a vast analysis of around 73 million proteins across 22,000 reference proteomes, revealing the motif's importance and evolutionary conservation in many organisms, particularly in viruses.
  • - The database also validated two newly discovered HbYX proteins that interact with the proteasome, with one of them shown to activate it, paving the way for new research and potential therapies for diseases like neurodegenerative disorders and cancer.
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The proteasome plays a crucial role in cellular homeostasis by degrading misfolded, damaged, or unnecessary proteins. Understanding the regulatory mechanisms of proteasome activity is vital, particularly the interaction with activators containing the hydrophobic-tyrosine-any amino acid (HbYX) motif. Here, we present ProEnd, a comprehensive database designed to identify and catalog HbYX motif-containing proteins across the tree of life.

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Proteasome dysfunction is implicated in the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative diseases and age-related proteinopathies. Using a model, we demonstrate that 20S proteasome hyperactivation, facilitated by 20S gate-opening, accelerates the targeting of intrinsically disordered proteins. This leads to increased protein synthesis, extensive rewiring of the proteome and transcriptome, enhanced oxidative stress defense, accelerated lipid metabolism, and peroxisome proliferation.

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Tin selenide (SnSe) has attracted much attention in the field of thermoelectrics since the discovery of the record figure of merit () of 2.6 ± 0.3.

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Potholes have long posed a challenging risk to automated systems due to their random and stochastic shapes and the reflectiveness of their surface when filled with water, whether it is "muddy" water or clear water. This has formed a significant limitation to autonomous assistive technologies such as Electric-Powered Wheelchairs (EPWs), mobility scooters, etc. due to the risk potholes pose on the user's well-being as it could cause severe falls and injuries as well as neck and back problems.

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