The NEM-sensitive fusion protein, NSF, together with SNAPs (soluble NSF attachment proteins) and the SNAREs (SNAP receptors), is thought to be generally used for the fusion of transport vesicles to their target membranes. NSF is a homotrimer whose polypeptide subunits are made up of three distinct domains: an amino-terminal domain (N) and two homologous ATP-binding domains (D1 and D2). Mutants ...

DiGeorge critical region 8 (DGCR8) is essential for maturation of microRNAs (miRNAs) in animals. In the cleavage of primary transcripts of miRNAs (pri-miRNAs) by the Drosha nuclease, the DGCR8 protein directly binds and recognizes pri-miRNAs through a mechanism currently controversial. Our previous data suggest that DGCR8 trimerizes upon cooperative binding to pri-mir-30a. However, a separate s...

In an attempt to understand what distinguishes severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) coronavirus (SCoV) from other members of the coronaviridae, we searched for elements that are unique to its proteins and not present in any other family member. We identified an insertion of two glycine residues, forming the GxxxG motif, in the SCoV spike protein transmembrane domain (TMD), which is not foun...

In the present study, the mechanism of action and molecular basis for the activity of the first class of selective inhibitors of the human excitatory amino acid transporter subtype 1 (EAAT1) and its rodent ortholog GLAST are elucidated. The previously reported specificity of UCPH-101 and UCPH-102 for EAAT1 over EAAT2 and EAAT3 is demonstrated to extend to the EAAT4 and EAAT5 subtypes as well. I...

The fusion peptide of the avian sarcoma/leukosis virus (ASLV) envelope protein (Env) is internal, near the N terminus of its transmembrane (TM) subunit. As for most internal viral fusion peptides, there is a proline near the center of this sequence. Robson-Garnier structure predictions of the ASLV fusion peptide and immediate surrounding sequences indicate a region of order (beta-sheet), a tigh...

Cell fate in multicellular organism is regulated by the diffusible factor from surrounding cells in concentration-dependent manner. TGF-beta is a large protein family of the diffusible proteins secreted from a localized source. The signal of TGF-beta is transduced by Smad family transcription factor. Though it is well known that the stoichiometry of Smads in the transcriptional complex regulate...

We explore topological properties of a modulated Haldane model (MHM) in which the strength nearest-neighbor and next-nearest-neighbor terms is made unequal three-fold rotational symmetry $\mathcal{C}_3$ broken by introducing trimerization term ($|t_{1w(2w)}|< t_{1s(2s)}$) Hamiltonian. Using parameter $\eta={t_{1w}}/{t_{1s}}= t_{2w}/t_{2s}$, we show that MHM supports transition from quantum anom...

Investigation of a cyanate ester based formulation and stereolithography-based additive manufacturing via Hot Lithography to produce polycyanurates with glass transition temperature 336 °C without any additives.

During virus assembly, viral precursor proteins form an empty capsid (procapsid) that undergoes large structural changes to become a mature capsid. In the case of Escherichia coli bacteriophage k, an icosahedral virus of triangulation number T=7 with a non-contractile tail, the procapsid, is comprised mainly of the major capsid protein gpE. The expansion of the prohead occurs upon DNA packing. ...