A comprehensive view of all the structural aspects related to NCp7 is essential to understand how this protein, crucial in many steps of the HIV-1 cycle, binds and anneals nucleic acids (NAs), mainly thanks to two zinc fingers, ZF1 and ZF2. Here, we inspected the structural properties of the available experimental models of NCp7 bound to either DNA or RNA molecules, or free of ligand. Our analyses included the characterization of the relative positioning of ZF1 and ZF2, accessibility measurements and the exhaustive, quantitative mapping of the contacts between amino acids and nucleotides by a recent tessellation method, VLDM. This approach unveiled the intimate connection between NA binding process and the conformations explored by the free protein. It also provided new insights into the functional specializations of ZF1 and ZF2. The larger accessibility of ZF2 in free NCp7 and the consistency of the ZF2/NA interface in different models and conditions give ZF2 the lead of the binding process. ZF1 contributes to stabilize the complexes through various organizations of the ZF1/NA interface. This work outcome is a global binding scheme of NCp7 to DNA and RNA, and an example of how protein-NA complexes are stabilized.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jmb.2019.03.002 | DOI Listing |
Stem Cell Res Ther
January 2025
College & Hospital of Stomatology, Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases Research of Anhui Province, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, 230032, China.
Background: The aging of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) impairs bone tissue regeneration, contributing to skeletal disorders. LncRNA NEAT1 is considered as a proliferative inhibitory role during cellular senescence, but the relevant mechanisms remain insufficient. This study aims to elucidate how NEAT1 regulates mitotic proteins during BMSCs aging.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFMol Med
January 2025
Center for Autoimmune Musculoskeletal and Hematopoietic Diseases, Institute of Molecular Medicine, The Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research, Northwell Health, 350 Community Drive, Manhasset, New York, 11030, USA.
Background: The process of B cell activation and plasma cell (PC) formation involves morphological, transcriptional, and metabolic changes in the B cell. Blocking or reducing PC differentiation is one approach to treat autoimmune diseases that are characterized by the presence of pathogenic autoantibodies. Recent studies have suggested the potential of myricetin, a natural flavonoid with anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, to block or reduce PC differentiation.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFACS Appl Mater Interfaces
January 2025
Key Laboratory of Bio-based Polymeric Materials Technology and Application of Zhejiang Province, Ningbo Institute of Materials Technology & Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 1219 Zhongguan West Road, Ningbo 315201, China.
2,5-Furandicarboxylic acid (FDCA) is one of the top selected value-added chemicals, which can be obtained by the aerobic oxidation of 2,5-bis(hydroxymethyl)furfural (BHMF) over a Pd-based catalyst. However, the elucidation of the reaction mechanism was hindered by its rapid kinetics. Herein, employing the density functional theory (DFT) calculations, we delve into the detailed reaction pathways of the BHMF oxidation into FDCA over Pd(111) and PdH(111) identifying the rate-determining steps.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFInvest New Drugs
January 2025
UCD School of Medicine, Conway Institute of Biomolecular and Biomedical Research, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland.
Background: Since MYC is one of the most frequently altered driver genes involved in cancer formation, it is a potential target for new anti-cancer therapies. Historically, however, MYC has proved difficult to target due to the absence of a suitable crevice for binding potential low molecular weight drugs.
Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate a novel molecular glue, dubbed GT19630, which degrades both MYC and GSPT1, for the treatment of breast cancer.
Angew Chem Int Ed Engl
January 2025
Chang Chun Institute of Applied Chemistry Chinese Academy of Sciences, Key Laboratory of Polymer Ecomaterials, 5625 Renmin Street, Changchun, , 130022, Changchun, CHINA.
Living cationic polymerization (LCP) is a classical technique for precision polymer synthesis; however, due to the high sensitivity of cationic active species towards chain-transfer/termination events, it is notoriously difficult to control polymerization under mild conditions, which inhibits its progress in advanced materials engineering. Here, we unlock a practical anion-binding catalytic strategy to address the historical dilemma in LCP. Our experimental and mechanistic studies demonstrate that commercially accessible hexafluoroisopropanol (HFIP), when used in high loading, can create higher-order HFIP aggregates to tame dormant-active species equilibrium via non-covalent anion-binding principle, in turn inducing distinctive polymerization kinetics behaviors that grant efficient chain propagation while minimizing competitive side reactions.
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