A new application of infrared spectromicroscopy analyzes cells for signs of Alzheimer’s disease by measuring how the molecules in cells vibrate upon exposure to infrared light. The vibrational profile of each sample is so distinct and the difference between diseased and healthy cell samples is so visible that researchers liken the process to “cellular fingerprinting.” Read more »
Functional and structural characterization of AntR, an Sb(III) responsive transcriptional repressor
Antimony is considered a priority environmental pollutant by the EPA. The ant operon of the antimony-mining bacterium, C. testosterone, confers resistance to Sb(III). The operon is regulated by the product of the first gene in the operon, antR. This is the first report of the structure and binding properties of antR, with high selectivity for environmental antimony. Read more »
Sifting through Fragments for COVID-19 Treatments
COVID-19 vaccines are essential for preventing serious disease, but the identification of new drugs is still necessary for the treatment of patients who become sick as a result of SARS-CoV-2 infection. Here, scientists used computational docking and crystallography to screen large numbers of small molecules for potential use in drug compounds. Read more »
Scientist at Berkeley Lab Played a Hand in “Inescapable” COVID-19 Antibody Discovery
An antibody therapy that appears to neutralize all known SARS-CoV-2 strains—including newly emerged mutants that can now “escape” from previous antibody therapies—was developed with a little help from structural biologist Jay Nix. His work helped generate detailed structural maps of how antibodies bind to the spike protein, enabling the selection of promising contenders. Read more »
Assembly of the SARS-CoV-2 Replication Mechanism
Using a multimodal approach that included x-ray scattering at the ALS, researchers determined how components of the SARS-CoV-2 replication mechanism fit together. A better understanding of how this protein complex works provides insight into potential structural or functional weak spots to exploit for drug development. Read more »
Nanoscale Metallic Particles Detected in Brain Tissue
Researchers detected nanoscale deposits of elemental copper and iron in brain tissues isolated from Alzheimer’s disease subjects. The discovery suggests new directions of study to determine the role that elemental metals might play in neurochemistry, neurobiology, and the development of neurodegenerative disease. Read more »
Deconstructing the Infectious Machinery of the SARS-CoV-2 Virus
Scientists collaborated to model the complex protein responsible for SARS-CoV-2 replication, revealing its potential weak spots for drug development. The investigation hinged on data collected from many advanced imaging techniques, including small-angle x-ray scattering (SAXS), crystallography, and small-angle neutron scattering (SANS). Read more »
Researchers Set Sights on Another COVID-19 Target
Early in the COVID-19 pandemic, it was quickly established that the receptor binding domain (RBD) of the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein is a prime target for neutralizing antibodies. Now, scientists have found a second region of the spike protein that is targeted by dozens of antibodies, some of which exhibit ultrapotent neutralizing activity. Read more »
Conformational Dynamics in the Interaction of SARS-CoV-2 Papain-like Protease with Human Interferon-Stimulated Gene 15 Protein
The image depicts the complex formed between SARS-CoV-2 papain-like protease and human interferon-stimulated gene 15 protein. Small-angle scattering elucidated the structural details of this complex providing insight into its role in suppressing the innate immune response and also potential routes for development of therapeutics to combat COVID-19. Read more »
Structure of blood coagulation factor VIII in complex with an anti–C1 domain pathogenic antibody inhibitor
van der Waals sphere representation of the factor VIII C1 domain, highlighting surface‐exposed hemophilia A–associated mutations that cause impaired von Willebrand factor binding and overlap with a pathogenic anti‐C1 domain inhibitor epitope. Read more »
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