Proteomics provides a systematic and high-throughput approach to comprehensively characterize protein networks, enabling insights into cellular functions and disease mechanisms. Carbamidomethylation using iodoacetamide (IAA), a common method for cysteine alkylation, is known to cause nonspecific modifications that increase MS spectral complexity and reduce quantitative accuracy. Here, we extended our 2-mercaptoethanol (2-ME) adduction method, enhanced by […]
Transcriptional profiling of Pseudomonas aeruginosa biofilm life cycle stages reveals dispersal-specific biomarkers
Bacteria exhibit two lifestyles: planktonic free-floating individual cells or sessile multicellular aggregates known as biofilms. The biofilm lifecycle is characterised by three distinct stages: attachment, maturation and dispersal. Specific signals govern each stage triggering responses that spatially and temporally regulate bacterial attachment to a surface, synthesis of extracellular matrix components and their subsequent degradation. Characterising […]
Elemental Composition and Degradation Rate Impact the Biocompatibility of Copper Chalcogenide Nanocrystals
Copper chalcogenide nanocrystals (NCs) are promising candidates for biophotonic applications due to their tunable optical properties. Concrete methods to examine the relationship between their degradation and toxicity are necessary to enable development of biocompatible nanoconstructs. This study compares the degradation and toxicity of three compositions of micelle-coated copper chalcogenide NCs: the fluorescent semiconductor copper indium […]
Ultrahigh-Throughput Forster Resonance Energy Transfer-Activated Droplet Sorting for Terminator Polymerase Engineering
Droplet microfluidic screening systems enable high-throughput, labor-saving enzyme directed evolution by employing fluorescence, absorbance, and Raman-activated sorting strategies for library screening. Forster resonance energy transfer (FRET) – a nanoscale technique for monitoring intramolecular/intermolecular conformational changes – is yet to be integrated into this process. We upgraded a single-channel sorter to a dual-channel one without redesigning […]
Structure of Factor VII Gla domain bound to EPCR
During the past few decades, numerous studies provided evidence for a productive interaction between activated factor VII (FVIIa) and the endothelial protein C receptor (EPCR). However, a structure that settles the docking orientation and binding signature was still lacking. We report here the crystal structure of factor VII Gla domain bound to human EPCR, revealing […]
HypoxamicroRNA-210 protects against hepatic steatosis by inhibiting CIDEC expression
Background and Aims Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) is a major global health burden. Although hypoxia is known to contribute to MASLD pathogenesis, the role of hypoxia signaling remains poorly defined. We investigated whether HypoxamicroRNA-210 (miR-210), a key hypoxia-inducible microRNA, regulates hepatic lipid metabolism and MASLD development. Methods Serum miR-210 levels were quantified in […]
Structural and Computational Analysis of Pseudomonas Aeruginosa DNA Gyrase Reveals Molecular Characteristics That May Contribute to Ciprofloxacin Resistance
Pseudomonas aeruginosa is considered a priority pathogen by the World Health Organization due to its resistance to antibiotics. Isolates resistant to ciprofloxacin (CPFX), a bactericide commonly used against P. aeruginosa, usually carry the mutations T83I or D87N in the GyrA subunit of the DNA gyrase. Yet, the molecular mechanisms by which these mutations confer CPFX-resistance […]
Dynamic O-GlcNAcylation of Sec23-interacting protein regulates COPII function
About one-third of the eukaryotic proteome transits the secretory pathway to reach its correct cellular or extracellular destination. At the earliest stage, transport from the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) to the ER-Golgi intermediate compartment (ERGIC) or Golgi apparatus is mediated by coat protein complex II (COPII). COPII coats consist of inner and outer layers formed by […]
OpenStride: an inexpensive, open-source force plate actometry system for quantification of rodent motor activity and behaviour
Introduction: Force plate actometry (FPA) enables quantitative assessment of rodent motor and behavioural activity. Through tracking centre of mass at high temporal and spatial resolution, FPA can directly quantifying motor performance and various behaviours in the context of operator-independent, naturalistic movement. Previously designed systems have been expensive and non-customisable, and they are no longer commercially […]
Tuning the H2 Production Activity of ToHydA by Molecular Simulation-Informed Protein Engineering
In the context of bio-hydrogen production, the O2-stable Group B [FeFe]-hydrogenase from Thermosediminibacter oceani has attracted significant interest due to its distinctive TSCCCP motif near the active site, which contains an additional (third) cysteine residue that is absent in the TSCCP motif of standard Group A hydrogenases. The precise role of the additional cysteine residue […]