DNA polymerase λ (pol λ) functions in DNA repair with its main roles considered to be filling short gaps during repair of double-strand breaks by nonhomologous end joining and during base excision repair. As indicated by structural and biochemical studies over the past 10 years, pol λ shares many common properties with other family X siblings (pol β, pol μ, and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase) but also has unique structural features that determine its specific functions. In this review, we consider how structural studies over the past decade furthered our understanding of the behavior and biological roles of pol λ.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1021/bi4017236 | DOI Listing |
J Med Life
November 2024
Biophysics and Cellular Biotechnology Department, Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Bucharest, Romania.
Optical tweezers, which leverage the forces exerted by radiation pressure, have emerged as a pivotal technique for precisely manipulating and analyzing microscopic particles. Since Arthur Ashkin's ground-breaking work in the 1970s and the subsequent development of the single-beam optical trap in 1986, the capabilities of optical tweezers have expanded significantly, enabling the intricate manipulation of biological specimens at the micro- and nanoscale. This review elucidates the foundational principles of optical trapping and their extensive applications in the biomedical sciences.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFMol Microbiol
January 2025
Department of Biological Sciences, College of Biological Sciences and Biotechnology, Chungnam National University, Daejeon, Republic of Korea.
The distance between the ribosome and the RNA polymerase active centers, known as the mRNA loop length, is crucial for transcription-translation coupling. Despite the existence of multiple expressomes with varying mRNA loop lengths, their in vivo roles remain largely unexplored. This study examines the mechanisms governing transcription termination in the Escherichia coli galactose operon, revealing a crucial role in the transcription and translation coupling state.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFNat Struct Mol Biol
January 2025
Laboratory of Molecular Biophysics, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY, USA.
Following transcript release during intrinsic termination, Escherichia coli RNA polymerase (RNAP) often remains associated with DNA in a post-termination complex (PTC). RNAPs in PTCs are removed from the DNA by the SWI2/SNF2 adenosine triphosphatase (ATPase) RapA. Here we determined PTC structures on negatively supercoiled DNA and with RapA engaged to dislodge the PTC.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFSci Rep
January 2025
Microbial Safety Division, National Institute of Agricultural Sciences, Rural Development Administration, Wanju, 55365, Republic of Korea.
The close genetic resemblance between Listeria monocytogenes and Listeria innocua, combined with their presence in similar environments, poses challenges for species-specific detection in food products. Ensuring food safety through microbiological standards necessitates reliable detection of pathogens like L. monocytogenes and L.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFNat Commun
January 2025
State Key Laboratory for Animal Disease Control and Prevention, College of Veterinary Medicine, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou, China.
African swine fever virus is highly contagious and causes a fatal infectious disease in pigs, resulting in a significant global impact on pork supply. The African swine fever virus RNA polymerase serves as a crucial multifunctional protein complex responsible for genome transcription and regulation. Therefore, it is essential to investigate its structural and functional characteristics for the prevention and control of African swine fever.
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