Key role of the TM2-TM3 loop in calcium potentiation of the α9α10 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor.

The α9α10 nicotinic cholinergic receptor (nAChR) is a ligand-gated pentameric cation-permeable ion channel that mediates synaptic transmission between descending efferent neurons and mechanosensory inner ear hair cells. When expressed in heterologous systems, α9 and α10 subunits can assemble into functional homomeric α9 and heteromeric α9α10 receptors. One of the differential properties between these nAChRs is the modulation of their ACh-evoked responses by extracellular calcium (Ca).

Bacterial cytochrome P450s: a bioinformatics odyssey of substrate discovery.

Bacterial P450 cytochromes (BacCYPs) are versatile heme-containing proteins responsible for oxidation reactions on a wide range of substrates, contributing to the production of valuable natural products with limitless biotechnological potential. While the sequencing of microbial genomes has provided a wealth of BacCYP sequences, functional characterization lags behind, hindering our understanding of their roles. This study employs a comprehensive approach to predict BacCYP substrate specificity, bridging the gap between sequence and function.

Overview of the SARS-CoV-2 genotypes circulating in Latin America during 2021.

Latin America is one of the regions in which the COVID-19 pandemic has a stronger impact, with more than 72 million reported infections and 1.6 million deaths until June 2022. Since this region is ecologically diverse and is affected by enormous social inequalities, efforts to identify genomic patterns of the circulating SARS-CoV-2 genotypes are necessary for the suitable management of the pandemic.