A technique combining ion mobility spectrometry-mass spectrometry (IMS-MS) and supercharging electrospray ionization (ESI) has been demonstrated to differentiate protein chemical topology effectively. Incorporating as many charges as possible into proteins via supercharging ESI allows the protein chains to be largely unfolded and stretched, revealing their hidden chemical topology. Different chemical topologies result in differing geometrical sizes of the unfolded proteins due to constraints in torsional rotations in cyclic domains. By introducing new topological indices, such as the chain-length-normalized collision cross-section (CCS) and the maximum charge state (z ) in the extensively unfolded state, we were able to successfully differentiate various protein chemical topologies, including linear chains, ring-containing topologies (lasso, tadpole, multicyclics, etc.), and mechanically interlocked rings, like catenanes.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/anie.202314980 | DOI Listing |
Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A
January 2025
Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138.
C-Terminal cyclic imides are posttranslational modifications that can arise from spontaneous intramolecular cleavage of asparagine or glutamine residues resulting in a form of irreversible protein damage. These protein damage events are recognized and removed by the E3 ligase substrate adapter cereblon (CRBN), indicating that these aging-related modifications may require cellular quality control mechanisms to prevent deleterious effects. However, the factors that determine protein or peptide susceptibility to C-terminal cyclic imide formation or their effect on protein stability have not been explored in detail.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFChem Biol Drug Des
January 2025
Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, University of California, Irvine, California, USA.
A new series of 13 ritonavir-like inhibitors of human drug-metabolizing CYP3A4 was rationally designed to study the R side-group and R end-group interplay when the R side-group is represented by phenyl. Spectral, functional, and structural characterization showed no improvement in the binding affinity and inhibitory potency of R/R-phenyl inhibitors upon elongation and/or fluorination of R-Boc (tert-butyloxycarbonyl) or its replacement with benzenesulfonyl. When R is pyridine, the impact of R-phenyl-to-indole/naphthalene substitution was multidirectional and highly dependent on side-group stereo configuration.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFSci Adv
January 2025
Hubei Key Laboratory of Cell Homeostasis, College of Life Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei, China.
The proteasome degrades most superfluous and damaged proteins, and its decline is associated with many diseases. As the proteolytic unit, the 20 proteasome is assembled from 28 subunits assisted by chaperones PAC1/2/3/4 and POMP; then, it undergoes the maturation process, in which the proteolytic sites are activated and the assembly chaperones are cleared. However, mechanisms governing the maturation remain elusive.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFSci Adv
January 2025
Texas Children's Cancer Center, Texas Children's Hospital, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA.
Chimeric antigen receptor T cells (CART) targeting CD19 through CD28.ζ signaling induce rapid lysis of leukemic blasts, contrasting with persistent tumor control exhibited by 4-1BB.ζ-CART.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFCell Rep
January 2025
Neuroscience Graduate Program, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA; Graduate Program in Cell and Molecular Biology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA; Medical Scientist Training Program, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA; Department of Neurology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA. Electronic address:
The nuclear RNA-binding protein TDP43 is integrally involved in the pathogenesis of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD). Previous studies uncovered N-terminal TDP43 isoforms that are predominantly cytosolic in localization, prone to aggregation, and enriched in susceptible spinal motor neurons. In healthy cells, however, these shortened (s)TDP43 isoforms are difficult to detect in comparison to full-length (fl)TDP43, raising questions regarding their origin and selective regulation.
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