Direct pathogen-induced assembly of an NLR immune receptor complex to form a holoenzyme
We report a cryo–electron microscopy structure of RPP1 bound by ATR1. The structure reveals a C-terminal jelly roll/Ig-like domain (C-JID) for specific ATR1 recognition. Biochemical and functional analyses show that ATR1 binds to the C-JID and the LRRs to induce an RPP1 tetrameric assembly required for nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide hydrolase (NADase) activity. RPP1 tetramerization creates two potential active sites, each formed by an asymmetric TIR homodimer. Our data define the mechanism of direct effector recognition by a plant NLR leading to formation of a signaling-active holoenzyme. (Source: ScienceNOW)
Source: ScienceNOW - December 3, 2020 Category: Science Authors: Ma, S., Lapin, D., Liu, L., Sun, Y., Song, W., Zhang, X., Logemann, E., Yu, D., Wang, J., Jirschitzka, J., Han, Z., Schulze-Lefert, P., Parker, J. E., Chai, J. Tags: Biochemistry, Online Only r-articles Source Type: news
Structure of the activated ROQ1 resistosome directly recognizing the pathogen effector XopQ
Plants and animals detect pathogen infection using intracellular nucleotide-binding leucine-rich repeat receptors (NLRs) that directly or indirectly recognize pathogen effectors and activate an immune response. How effector sensing triggers NLR activation remains poorly understood. Here we describe the 3.8-angstrom-resolution cryo–electron microscopy structure of the activated ROQ1 (recognition of XopQ 1), an NLR native to Nicotiana benthamiana with a Toll-like interleukin-1 receptor (TIR) domain bound to the Xanthomonas euvesicatoria effector XopQ (Xanthomonas outer protein Q). ROQ1 directly binds to both the predic...
Source: ScienceNOW - December 3, 2020 Category: Science Authors: Martin, R., Qi, T., Zhang, H., Liu, F., King, M., Toth, C., Nogales, E., Staskawicz, B. J. Tags: Biochemistry, Botany, Online Only r-articles Source Type: news
The COVID-19 pandemic: in a world of fake news, why science matters
The COVID-19 pandemic raises important questions about the role of life sciences in society and if the voices of scientists are now less audible or less important, is this a problem and how can this be addressed? This question will be one of many tackled by a panel, including Nobel Prize-winning biologist, Sir Paul Nurse and Bristol Mayor, Marvin Rees, for a live online event to celebrate the launch of the University of Bristol's Faculty of Life Sciences. (Source: University of Bristol news)
Source: University of Bristol news - December 2, 2020 Category: Universities & Medical Training Tags: Health, International, Research, Public engagement; Faculty of Life Sciences, Faculty of Life Sciences, School of Biochemistry, Faculty of Life Sciences, School of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Life Sciences, School of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, F Source Type: news
Protein molecules in cells function as miniature antennas
(Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry of the Czech Academy of Sciences (IOCB Prague)) Researchers led by Josef Lazar from IOCB Prague have demonstrated that molecules of fluorescent proteins act as antennas with optical properties (i.e. the ability to absorb and emit light) dependent on their spatial orientation. First discovered in jellyfish, fluorescent proteins are nowadays widely used in studies of molecular processes in living cells and organisms. The newly described properties of these molecules will find applications in basic biological research as well as in novel drug discovery. (Source: EurekAlert! - Biology)
Source: EurekAlert! - Biology - December 2, 2020 Category: Biology Source Type: news
London A.I. Lab Claims Breakthrough That Could Accelerate Drug Discovery
Researchers at DeepMind say they have solved “the protein folding problem,” a task that has bedeviled scientists for more than 50 years. (Source: NYT Health)
Source: NYT Health - November 30, 2020 Category: Consumer Health News Authors: Cade Metz Tags: Computers and the Internet Clinical Trials Science and Technology Drugs (Pharmaceuticals) Proteins Laboratories and Scientific Equipment Artificial Intelligence Biology and Biochemistry Google Inc Hassabis, Demis your-feed-science yo Source Type: news
