Structural studies of antitumor compounds that target the RING domain of MDM2.

Mouse double minute 2 homolog (MDM2) is an E3 ubiquitin-protein ligase that is involved in the transfer of ubiquitin to p53 and other protein substrates. The expression of MDM2 is elevated in cancer cells and inhibitors of MDM2 showed potent anticancer activities. Many inhibitors target the p53 binding domain of MDM2.

Nucleocapsid Structure of Negative Strand RNA Virus.

Negative strand RNA viruses (NSVs) include many important human pathogens, such as influenza virus, Ebola virus, and rabies virus. One of the unique characteristics that NSVs share is the assembly of the nucleocapsid and its role in viral RNA synthesis. In NSVs, the single strand RNA genome is encapsidated in the linear nucleocapsid throughout the viral replication cycle.

Hemoglobin crystals immersed in liquid oxygen reveal diffusion channels.

Human hemoglobin (HbA) transports molecular oxygen (O) from the lung to tissues where the partial pressure of O is lower. O binds to HbA at the heme cofactor and is stabilized by a distal histidine (HisE7). HisE7 has been observed to occupy opened and closed conformations, and is postulated to act as a gate controlling the binding/release of O.