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Eur J Pharm Biopharm 2021 Apr 7. Epub 2021 Apr 7.

Centre for Marine Sciences, Universidade do Algarve, 8005-139 Faro, Portugal; Research Institute for Medicines (iMed.ULisboa), Faculty of Pharmacy, Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Prof. Gama Pinto, 1649-003 Lisboa, Portugal. Electronic address:

Tuberculosis remains a leading cause of death, therapeutic failure being mainly due to non-compliance with prolonged treatments, often associated with severe side-effects. New therapeutic strategies are demanded and, considering that the lung is the primary site of infection, direct lung delivery of antibiotics is possibly an effective approach. Therapeutic success in this context depends on suitable carriers that reach the alveoli where Mycobacterium hosts (macrophages) reside, as well as on their ability to promote macrophage capture and intracellular accumulation of drugs. Read More

Mol Cell 2021 Apr 4. Epub 2021 Apr 4.

Université de Paris, CNRS, Institut Jacques Monod, 75006 Paris, France. Electronic address:

mRNA translation is coupled to multiprotein complex assembly in the cytoplasm or to protein delivery into intracellular compartments. Here, by combining systematic RNA immunoprecipitation and single-molecule RNA imaging in yeast, we have provided a complete depiction of the co-translational events involved in the biogenesis of a large multiprotein assembly, the nuclear pore complex (NPC). We report that binary interactions between NPC subunits can be established during translation, in the cytoplasm. Read More

Curr Top Membr 2020 14;86:57-81. Epub 2020 Sep 14.

Department of Engineering, Dordt University, Sioux Center, IA, United States.

Bioactive omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids have been shown to reduce the risk of death in patients with cardiovascular disease and alleviate the symptoms of other inflammatory diseases. However, the mechanisms of action of these effects remain unclear. It has been postulated that omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids modify cell membranes by incorporation into the membrane and altering the signaling properties of cellular receptors. Read More

Sci Rep 2021 Apr 9;11(1):7832. Epub 2021 Apr 9.

Neurotoxin Research Program, Department of Biological Sciences, Allergan (an AbbVie Company) R&D, 2525 Dupont Dr., RD3-3B, Irvine, CA, 92612, USA.

Clostridium botulinum neurotoxin serotype A (BoNT/A) is a potent neurotoxin that serves as an effective therapeutic for several neuromuscular disorders via induction of temporary muscular paralysis. Specific binding and internalization of BoNT/A into neuronal cells is mediated by its binding domain (H/A), which binds to gangliosides, including GT1b, and protein cell surface receptors, including SV2. Previously, recombinant H/A was also shown to bind to FGFR3. Read More

Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2021 Mar;118(11)

Department of Genetics, Cell Biology, and Development, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455;

Classical pharmacological models have incorporated an "intrinsic efficacy" parameter to capture system-independent effects of G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) ligands. However, the nonlinear serial amplification of downstream signaling limits quantitation of ligand intrinsic efficacy. A recent biophysical study has characterized a ligand "molecular efficacy" that quantifies the influence of ligand-dependent receptor conformation on G protein activation. Read More