Comparative analysis of biophysical methods for monitoring protein proximity induction in the development of small molecule degraders.

Background: Targeted protein degradation relies on inducing proximity between an E3 ubiquitin ligase and a target protein, and subsequent proteasomal degradation of the latter. Biophysical methods allow the measurement of the ternary complex formation by recombinant target and E3 ligase proteins in the presence of molecular glues and bifunctional degraders. The development of new chemotypes of degraders mediating ternary complex formation of unknown dimensions and geometries requires the use of different biophysical approaches.

Lattice Shrinkage by Incorporation of Recombinant Starmaker-Like Protein within Bioinspired Calcium Carbonate Crystals.

The biological mediation of mineral formation (biomineralization) is realized through diverse organic macromolecules that guide this process in a spatial and temporal manner. Although the role of these molecules in biomineralization is being gradually revealed, the molecular basis of their regulatory function is still poorly understood. In this study, the incorporation and distribution of the model intrinsically disordered starmaker-like (Stm-l) protein, which is active in fish otoliths biomineralization, within calcium carbonate crystals, is revealed.

Photochemical analysis of structural transitions in DNA liquid crystals reveals differences in spatial structure of DNA molecules organized in liquid crystalline form.

The anisotropic shape of DNA molecules allows them to form lyotropic liquid crystals (LCs) at high concentrations. This liquid crystalline arrangement is also found in vivo (e.g.

Two-Photon Imaging of 3D Organization of Bimetallic AuAg Nanoclusters in DNA Matrix.

We report on two-photon excitation properties of small silver-doped gold nanoclusters (AuAgNCs) and on their three-dimensional arrangement in a hybrid system composed of DNA liquid crystals (LCs) and AuAgNCs. UV-vis and fluorescence spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and multiphoton excitation spectroscopy were used to characterize the nanoparticles. We show that AuAgNCs exhibit two-photon excited luminescence (2PL) emission and second-harmonic generation (SHG) and that these properties remain the same in liquid crystalline matrix.

Stabilization of DNA liquid crystals on doping with gold nanorods.

We report on the impact of doping with gold nanorods (NRs) on the formation and stability of DNA liquid crystals (LCs). Cetyl trimethylammonium (CTAB)-stabilized gold NRs were synthesized using the wet chemistry method. Different textures of cholesteric and columnar mesophases, as well as phase transitions, were observed using a polarized light microscope.

Weighing polyelectrolytes packaged in viruslike particles.

This Letter reports on the remarkable selectivity of capsid proteins for packaging synthetic polyelectrolytes in viruslike particles. By applying the contrast variation method in small-angle neutron scattering, we accurately estimated the mean mass of packaged polyelectrolytes ⟨Mp⟩ and that of the surrounding capsid ⟨Mcap⟩. Remarkably, the mass ratio ⟨Mp⟩/⟨Mcap⟩ was invariant for polyelectrolyte molecular weights spanning more than 2 orders of magnitude.