Identification and characterization of the functional tetrameric UDP-glucose pyrophosphorylase from .

In all kingdoms of life, the enzyme uridine diphosphate-glucose pyrophosphorylase (UGP) occupies a central role in metabolism, as its reaction product uridine diphosphate-glucose (UDP-Glc) is involved in various crucial cellular processes. Pathogens, including fungi, parasites, and bacteria, depend on UGP for the synthesis of virulence factors; in particular, various bacterial species utilize UDP-Glc and its derivatives for the synthesis of lipopolysaccharides, capsular polysaccharides, and biofilm exopolysaccharides. UGPs have, therefore, gained attention as anti-bacterial drug target candidates, prompting us to study their structure-function relationships to provide a basis for the rational development of specific inhibitors.

Crystal structures of cables formed by the acetylated and unacetylated forms of the Schizosaccharomyces pombe tropomyosin ortholog Tpm.

Cables formed by head-to-tail polymerization of tropomyosin, localized along the length of sarcomeric and cytoskeletal actin filaments, play a key role in regulating a wide range of motile and contractile processes. The stability of tropomyosin cables, their interaction with actin filaments and the functional properties of the resulting co-filaments are thought to be affected by N-terminal acetylation of tropomyosin. Here, we present high-resolution structures of cables formed by acetylated and unacetylated Schizosaccharomyces pombe tropomyosin ortholog Tpm.

Effects of Algicidal Macrophyte Metabolites on Cyanobacteria, Microcystins, Other Plankton, and Fish in Microcosms.

To control harmful algae blooms (HABs), methods based on natural mechanisms are now required. We investigated the effects of an algicide derived from macrophyte metabolites, namely mixtures of gallic, tetradecanoic, heptanoic, and octanoic acids (1:1:1:1 mass ratio, a total concentration of 14 mg/L), on the biomass of cyanobacteria and other plankton and the production of microcystins under experimental conditions. Two types of microcosms have been created: simple (microalgae, cyanobacteria, and zooplankton) and complex (microalgae, cyanobacteria, zooplankton, and planktivorous fish).

Unlocking the Potential: Predicting Redox Behavior of Organic Molecules, from Linear Fits to Neural Networks.

Redox-active organic molecules, .., molecules that can relatively easily accept and/or donate electrons, are ubiquitous in biology, chemical synthesis, and electronic and spintronic devices, such as solar cells and rechargeable batteries, etc.

Dealing with sand in the Arctic city of Nadym.

Sand plays an important role in the Arctic urban development as construction material and stable ground. Significance of its studies increases in face of permafrost degradation and coastal erosion and for understanding human capacities to restore natural landscapes after anthropogenic disturbances. This paper examines changing human interactions with sand in the city of Nadym, northwest of Siberia.