Exploiting cryo-EM structures of actomyosin-5a to reveal the physical properties of its lever.

Myosin 5a (Myo5a) is a dimeric processive motor protein that transports cellular cargos along filamentous actin (F-actin). Its long lever is responsible for its large power-stroke, step size, and load-bearing ability. Little is known about the levers' structure and physical properties, and how they contribute to walking mechanics.

New variants and in silico analyses in GRK1 associated Oguchi disease.

Biallelic mutations in G-Protein coupled receptor kinase 1 (GRK1) cause Oguchi disease, a rare subtype of congenital stationary night blindness (CSNB). The purpose of this study was to identify disease causing GRK1 variants and use in-depth bioinformatic analyses to evaluate how their impact on protein structure could lead to pathogenicity. Patients' genomic DNA was sequenced by whole genome, whole exome or focused exome sequencing.

Need for Speed: Examining Protein Behavior during CryoEM Grid Preparation at Different Timescales.

A host of new technologies are under development to improve the quality and reproducibility of cryoelectron microscopy (cryoEM) grid preparation. Here we have systematically investigated the preparation of three macromolecular complexes using three different vitrification devices (Vitrobot, chameleon, and a time-resolved cryoEM device) on various timescales, including grids made within 6 ms (the fastest reported to date), to interrogate particle behavior at the air-water interface for different timepoints. Results demonstrate that different macromolecular complexes can respond to the thin-film environment formed during cryoEM sample preparation in highly variable ways, shedding light on why cryoEM sample preparation can be difficult to optimize.