Expression of a Recombinant Cholesterol Esterase from in and Its Applicability for γ-Oryzanol Hydrolysis.

Ferulic acid (FA) exhibits antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, making it valuable for numerous industrial applications. Traditionally, FA is produced by the alkaline hydrolysis of -oryzanol, which is typically associated with wastewater generation. Recently, an increasing demand of natural FA necessitates its green production via enzymatic hydrolysis of -oryzanol, a mixture comprising triterpene alcohol ferulates and phytosteryl ferulates.

Evaluation of a group family-based intervention programme for adolescent obesity: the LITE randomised controlled pilot trial.

Introduction: This study aimed to evaluate the LITE (Lifestyle Intervention for TEenagers) group programme, a family-based behavioural lifestyle intervention for overweight and obese adolescents.

Methods: We conducted a two-arm randomised controlled trial that recruited overweight and obese adolescents who attended a tertiary care weight management clinic. Participants were randomised to the LITE programme or usual care.

RNase AS versus RNase T: similar yet different.

In this issue of Structure, Romano and colleagues show that RNase AS specifically hydrolyses adenylate-containing RNA and affects mycobacterial virulence. This study reveals the structural basis underlying the substrate specificity of this enzyme.

Structural basis of SOSS1 complex assembly and recognition of ssDNA.

The SOSS1 complex comprising SOSSA, SOSSB1, and SOSSC senses single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) and promotes repair of DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs). But how SOSS1 is assembled and recognizes ssDNA remains elusive. The crystal structure of the N-terminal half of SOSSA (SOSSAN) in complex with SOSSB1 and SOSSC showed that SOSSAN serves as a scaffold to bind both SOSSB1 and SOSSC for assembly of the SOSS1 complex.

ER stress potentiates insulin resistance through PERK-mediated FOXO phosphorylation.

Endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress is emerging as a potential contributor to the onset of type 2 diabetes by making cells insulin-resistant. However, our understanding of the mechanisms by which ER stress affects insulin response remains fragmentary. Here we present evidence that the ER stress pathway acts via a conserved signaling mechanism involving the protein kinase PERK to modulate cellular insulin responsiveness.

The Ighmbp2 helicase structure reveals the molecular basis for disease-causing mutations in DMSA1.

Mutations in immunoglobulin µ-binding protein 2 (Ighmbp2) cause distal spinal muscular atrophy type 1 (DSMA1), an autosomal recessive disease that is clinically characterized by distal limb weakness and respiratory distress. However, despite extensive studies, the mechanism of disease-causing mutations remains elusive. Here we report the crystal structures of the Ighmbp2 helicase core with and without bound RNA.

Structural basis of substrate binding specificity revealed by the crystal structures of polyamine receptors SpuD and SpuE from Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

The type III secretion system (T3SS) of Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a key virulence determinant whose expression is induced by polyamine signals from mammalian host. SpuD and SpuE were postulated to be spermidine-preferential binding proteins, which regulate the polyamine content in this bacterial pathogen. In this study, we found that SpuD is a putrescine-preferential binding protein, while SpuE binds to spermidine exclusively.

Structural basis of the sensor-synthase interaction in autoinduction of the quorum sensing signal DSF biosynthesis.

The diffusible signal factor (DSF)-dependent quorum sensing (QS) system adopts a novel protein-protein interaction mechanism to autoregulate the production of signal DSF. Here, we present the crystal structures of DSF synthase RpfF and its complex with the REC domain of sensor protein RpfC. RpfF is structurally similarity to the members of the crotonase superfamily and contains an N-terminal α/β spiral core domain and a C-terminal α-helical region.

Second harmonic generation of magnetic and dielectric multilayers.

The second harmonic generation of antiferromagnetic and dielectric multilayers is analysed by using a conventional nonlinear optics approach and transfer matrix formalism. The theoretical modelling of the multilayers is configured in Voigt geometry in order to observe second harmonic transmission and reflection through the film system, with the assumption of weak nonlinearity and no depletion of incident waves. With these, some of the linear and second harmonic transmissions and reflections are calculated numerically and shown graphically.