Different variants of hepatitis C virus core protein (HCcAg) have proved to self-assemble in vitro into virus-like particles (VLPs). However, difficulties in obtaining purified mature HCcAg have limited these studies. In this study, a high degree of monomeric HCcAg purification was accomplished using chromatographic procedures under denaturing conditions. Size exclusion chromatography and sucrose density gradient centrifugation of renatured HCcAg (in the absence of structured RNA) under reducing conditions suggested that it assembled into empty capsids. The electron microscopy analysis of renatured HCcAg showed the presence of spherical VLPs with irregular shapes and an average diameter of 35nm. Data indicated that HCcAg monomers assembled in vitro into VLPs in the absence of structured RNA, suggesting that recombinant HCcAg used in this work contains all the information necessary for the assembly process. However, they also suggest that some cellular factors might be required for the proper in vitro assembly of capsids.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.bbrc.2004.10.012 | DOI Listing |
Curr Biol
January 2025
Department of Biology, Rosenstiel Basic Medical Science Research Center, Brandeis University, 415 South Street, Waltham, MA 02454, USA. Electronic address:
In vivo functions of the septin and actin cytoskeletons are closely intertwined, yet the mechanisms underlying septin-actin crosstalk have remained poorly understood. Here, we show that the yeast-bud-neck-associated Fes/CIP4 homology Bar-amphiphysin-Rvs (F-BAR) protein suppressor of yeast profilin 1 (Syp1)/FCHo uses its intrinsically disordered region (IDR) to directly bind and bundle filamentous actin (F-actin) and to physically link septins and F-actin. Interestingly, the only other F-BAR protein found at the neck during bud development, Hof1, has related activities and also potently inhibits the bud-neck-associated formin Bnr1.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFFood Chem
January 2025
Department of Food Science and Technology, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China. Electronic address:
As an essential B vitamin, folate participates in one‑carbon metabolism. The 5-methyltetrahydrofolate (5-MTHF) avoids the drawbacks associated with folic acid and native folylpolyglutamate folate in food, thereby emerging as a superior alternative to folate supplement. To enhance the stability and digestibility of 5-MTHF, nanoliposome (NL) was modified using a layer-by-layer self-assembly method with chitosan (CH) and pectin (P).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFNucleic Acids Res
January 2025
State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology and College of Life Science and Technology, Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, Huazhong Agricultural University, Shizishan Road No.1, Hongshan District, 430070 Wuhan, China.
Primase-polymerases (PrimPols) play divergent functions from DNA replication to DNA repair in all three life domains. In archaea and bacteria, numerous and diverse PPs are encoded by mobile genetic elements (MGEs) and act as the replicases for their MGEs. However, their varying activities and functions are not fully understood.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFTrends Cell Biol
January 2025
Centre for Biomedical Technologies, Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Brisbane, QLD 4059, Australia; School of Mechanical, Medical, and Process Engineering, Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Brisbane, QLD 4059, Australia; Australian Research Council (ARC) Training Centre for Cell and Tissue Engineering Technologies, Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Brisbane, QLD 4059, Australia. Electronic address:
With advances in underlying technologies such as complex multicellular systems, synthetic materials, and bioengineering techniques, we can now generate in vitro miniaturized human tissues that recapitulate the organotypic features of normal or diseased tissues. Importantly, these 3D culture models have increasingly provided experimental access to diverse and complex tissues architectures and their morphogenic assembly in vitro. This review presents an analytical toolbox for biological researchers using 3D modeling technologies through which they can find a collation of currently available methods to phenotypically assess their 3D models in their normal state as well as their response to therapeutic or pathological agents.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAdv Sci (Weinh)
January 2025
Wenzhou Institute, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, 325001, China.
Protein self-assembly allows for the formation of diverse supramolecular materials from relatively simple building blocks. In this study, a single-component self-assembling hydrogel is developed using the recombinant protein CsgA, and its successful application for spinal cord injury repair is demonstrated. Gelation is achieved by the physical entanglement of CsgA nanofibrils, resulting in a self-supporting hydrogel at low concentrations (≥5 mg mL).
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