A Gluten-Free Diet during Pregnancy and Early Life Increases Short Chain Fatty Acid-Producing Bacteria and Regulatory T Cells in Prediabetic NOD Mice.

The incidence of the autoimmune disease type 1 diabetes is increasing, likely caused by environmental factors. A gluten-free diet has previously been shown to ameliorate autoimmune diabetes in non-obese diabetic (NOD) mice and humans. Although the exact mechanisms are not understood, interventions influencing the intestinal microbiota early in life affect the risk of type 1 diabetes.

Computational and Functional Analysis of Structural Features in the ZAKα Kinase.

The kinase ZAKα acts as the proximal sensor of translational impairment and ribotoxic stress, which results in the activation of the MAP kinases p38 and JNK. Despite recent insights into the functions and binding partners of individual protein domains in ZAKα, the mechanisms by which ZAKα binds ribosomes and becomes activated have remained elusive. Here, we highlight a short, thrice-repeated, and positively charged peptide motif as critical for the ribotoxic stress-sensing function of the Sensor (S) domain of ZAKα.