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Hum Mol Genet 2021 Apr 16. Epub 2021 Apr 16.

State Key Laboratory of Molecular Developmental Biology, Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences.

CLP1, TSEN complex, and VCP are evolutionarily conserved proteins whose mutations are associated with neurodegenerative diseases. In this study, we have found that they are also involved in germline differentiation. To optimize both quantity and quality in gametes production, germ cells expand themselves through limited mitotic cycles prior to meiosis. Read More

Biochem J 2021 Apr;478(7):1377-1397

MRC Protein Phosphorylation and Ubiquitylation Unit, University of Dundee, Dundee, U.K.

The salt-inducible kinases, SIK1, SIK2 and SIK3, most closely resemble the AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) and other AMPK-related kinases, and like these family members they require phosphorylation by LKB1 to be catalytically active. However, unlike other AMPK-related kinases they are phosphorylated by cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase (PKA), which promotes their binding to 14-3-3 proteins and inactivation. The most well-established substrates of the SIKs are the CREB-regulated transcriptional co-activators (CRTCs), and the Class 2a histone deacetylases (HDAC4/5/7/9). Read More

bioRxiv 2021 Apr 10. Epub 2021 Apr 10.

The S protein of the SARS-CoV-2 is a Type I membrane protein that mediates membrane fusion and viral entry. A vast amount of structural information is available for the ectodomain of S, a primary target by the host immune system, but much less is known regarding its transmembrane domain (TMD) and its membrane-proximal regions. Here, we determined the nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) structure of the S protein TMD in bicelles that closely mimic a lipid bilayer. Read More

Res Sq 2021 Apr 9. Epub 2021 Apr 9.

The novel SARS-CoV-2 has quickly become a global pandemic since the first reported case in December 2019, with the virus infecting millions of people to date. The spike (S) protein of the SARS-CoV-2 virus plays a key role in binding to angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2), a host cell receptor for SARS-CoV-2. S proteins that are expressed on the cell membrane can initiate receptor-dependent syncytia formation that is associated with extensive tissue damage. Read More

Mol Med Rep 2021 Jun 13;23(6). Epub 2021 Apr 13.

Department of Pediatrics, Yunnan University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Kunming, Yunnan 650500, P.R. China.

The present study aimed to analyze the effects and underlying mechanisms of microRNA (miR)‑29‑3p on the proliferation and secretory abilities of prolactinoma cells by targeting insulin‑like growth factor (IGF)‑1/β‑catenin. The relationship between miR‑29a‑3p and the survival of prolactinoma cells was analyzed with the Kaplan‑Meier method in reference to The Cancer Genome Atlas. The expression levels of miR‑29a‑3p and IGF‑1 in MMQ and GH3 cells were detected. Read More