Publications by authors named "S M Stagg"

Protein misfolding is a widespread phenomenon that can result in the formation of protein aggregates, which are markers of various disease states, including Alzheimer's disease (AD). In AD, amyloid beta (Aβ) peptides are key players in the disease's progression, particularly the 40- and 42- residue variants, Aβ40 and Aβ42. These peptides aggregate to form amyloid plaques and contribute to neuronal toxicity.

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Article Synopsis
  • Pathological mutations in the Trk-fused gene (TFG) are linked to neurodegenerative diseases, particularly hereditary spastic paraplegia (HSP), causing lower limb issues.* -
  • Researchers used X-ray crystallography and cryo-electron microscopy to reveal how TFG forms octameric ring complexes, crucial for its function.* -
  • Mutations from HSP patients disrupt the stability of these complexes, leading to neurodegenerative effects, but different mutations have varying impacts, indicating multiple mechanisms of disease progression.*
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Protein misfolding is a widespread phenomenon that can result in the formation of protein aggregates, which are markers of various disease states, including Alzheimer's disease (AD). In AD, amyloid beta (Aβ) peptides, particularly Aβ40 and Aβ42, are key players in the disease's progression, as they aggregate to form amyloid plaques and contribute to neuronal toxicity. Recent research has shifted attention from solely Aβ fibrils to also include Aβ protofibrils and oligomers as potentially critical pathogenic agents.

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In cryogenic electron microscopy (cryo-EM), specimen preparation remains a bottleneck despite recent advancements. Classical plunge freezing methods often result in issues like aggregation and preferred orientations at the air/water interface. Many alternative methods have been proposed, but there remains a lack a universal solution, and multiple techniques are often required for challenging samples.

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Mitochondrial health relies on the membrane fission mediated by dynamin-related protein 1 (Drp1). Previous structural studies of Drp1 on remodeled membranes were hampered by heterogeneity, leaving a critical gap in the understanding of the mitochondrial fission mechanism. Here we present a cryo-electron microscopy structure of full-length human Drp1 decorated on membrane tubules.

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