Lipid droplets (LDs) form in the endoplasmic reticulum by phase separation of neutral lipids. This process is facilitated by the seipin protein complex, which consists of a ring of seipin monomers, with a yet unclear function. Here, we report a structure of S. cerevisiae seipin based on cryogenic-electron microscopy and structural modeling data. Seipin forms a decameric, cage-like structure with the lumenal domains forming a stable ring at the cage floor and transmembrane segments forming the cage sides and top. The transmembrane segments interact with adjacent monomers in two distinct, alternating conformations. These conformations result from changes in switch regions, located between the lumenal domains and the transmembrane segments, that are required for seipin function. Our data indicate a model for LD formation in which a closed seipin cage enables triacylglycerol phase separation and subsequently switches to an open conformation to allow LD growth and budding.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41594-021-00718-y | DOI Listing |
J Virol
January 2025
Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, Hubei, China.
Unlabelled: Although fish possess an effective interferon (IFN) system to defend against viral infection, grass carp reovirus (GCRV) still causes epidemic hemorrhagic disease and tremendous economic loss in grass carp. Therefore, it is necessary to investigate the immune escape strategies employed by GCRV. In this study, we show that the structural protein VP4 of GCRV (encoded by the S6 segment) significantly restricts IFN expression by degrading stimulator of IFN genes (STING) through the autophagy-lysosome-dependent pathway.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFbioRxiv
December 2024
Laboratorio de Genética e Cardiologia Molecular, Faculdade de Medicina, Instituto do Coração (InCor), Hospital das Clínicas HCFMUSP, Universidade de Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, SP, Brazil.
Dipeptidyl peptidase 4 (DPP4) is a transmembrane serine exopeptidase abundantly expressed in the kidneys, predominantly in the proximal tubule (PT); however, its non-enzymatic functions in this nephron segment remain poorly understood. While DPP4 physically associates with the Na/H exchanger isoform 3 (NHE3) and its inhibitors exert natriuretic effects, the DPP4 role in blood pressure (BP) regulation remains controversial. This study investigated the effects of PT-specific deletion ( ) and global deletion ( ) on systolic blood pressure (SBP), natriuresis, and NHE3 regulation under baseline and angiotensin II (Ang II)-stimulated conditions in both male and female mice.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFSci Adv
January 2025
Department of Anesthesiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA.
BMC Neurosci
December 2024
Powell Mansfield, Inc., San Diego, CA, USA.
Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is widespread, under-recognized, and under-treated, impacting the health and quality of life for millions. The current gold standard for sleep apnea testing is based on the in-lab sleep study, which is costly, cumbersome, not readily available and represents a well-known roadblock to managing this huge societal burden. Assessment of neuromuscular function involved in the upper airway using electromyography (EMG) has shown potential to characterize and diagnose sleep apnea, while the development of transmembranous electromyography (tmEMG), a painless surface probe, has made this opportunity practical and highly feasible.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFJ Am Chem Soc
January 2025
Department of Chemistry, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 170 Albany Street, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States.
The SARS-CoV-2 E protein conducts cations across the cell membrane to cause pathogenicity to infected cells. The high-resolution structures of the E transmembrane domain (ETM) in the closed state at neutral pH and in the open state at acidic pH have been determined. However, the ion conduction mechanism remains elusive.
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