UDP-Glycosyltransferases in Edible Fungi: Function, Structure, and Catalytic Mechanism

Catalytic RNA: structure and mechanism.

The Hopkins Lecturer is given the charge of explaining how advances in other fields of science have had an impact on his or her own field of biochemistry. A moment’s thought revealed that it was not at all difficult to think of examples where other scientific fields have provided necessary groundwork for the study of RNA catalysis or RNA biochemistry in general. Rather, it was difficult to choo...

Some Edible and Poisonous Fungi

Research of Edible Fungi in Shanghai

The modern edible fungi study in China was originated in Shanghai. The Edible Fungi Institute (EFI) under the Shanghai Academy of Agricultural Science has made many breakthroughs in the Chinese edible fungi study. EFI has succeeded in getting pure spawns, has diversified the cultivation varieties of edible fungi by domesticating wild mushrooms, and has developed the bag cultivation technology. ...

Structure and Mechanism of Human UDP-glucose 6-Dehydrogenase

Elevated production of the matrix glycosaminoglycan hyaluronan is strongly implicated in epithelial tumor progression. Inhibition of synthesis of the hyaluronan precursor UDP-glucuronic acid (UDP-GlcUA) therefore presents an emerging target for cancer therapy. Human UDP-glucose 6-dehydrogenase (hUGDH) catalyzes, in two NAD(+)-dependent steps without release of intermediate aldehyde, the biosynt...

Structure and Mechanism of Human UDP-xylose Synthase

UDP-xylose synthase (UXS) catalyzes decarboxylation of UDP-D-glucuronic acid to UDP-xylose. In mammals, UDP-xylose serves to initiate glycosaminoglycan synthesis on the protein core of extracellular matrix proteoglycans. Lack of UXS activity leads to a defective extracellular matrix, resulting in strong interference with cell signaling pathways. We present comprehensive structural and mechanist...