Cyclic Peptide Inhibitors Function as Molecular Glues to Stabilize Gq/11 Heterotrimers

Chemistry, Medicinal Chemistry, Medicine, Life Sciences, Biochemistry, Biophysics,
cyclic peptide inhibitors   molecular glues   Gq/11 heterotrimers   X-ray crystallography   BRET biosensors  

Academic Background G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) are the largest family of membrane proteins in the human body, transmitting extracellular signals through heterotrimeric G proteins (composed of Gα and Gβγ subunits). G proteins function as molecular switches, with their activity states regulated by the GTP/GDP cycle: - Inactive state: Gα bind...

Cross-Feeding Creates Tipping Points in Microbiome Diversity

Chemistry, Medicine, Life Sciences, Biochemistry, Bioengineering, Biophysics, Microbiology,
cross-feeding networks   microbial communities   diversity   percolation theory   tipping points  

Academic Background Microbiomes are among the most diverse ecosystems on Earth, consisting of hundreds of functionally distinct microbial populations interacting through complex resource exchange networks. However, a long-standing unresolved question is: How is this extraordinary diversity maintained through metabolic interactions among populations...

Paving the Way for Social Touch at a Distance: Sonifying Tactile Interactions and Their Underlying Emotions

Information Science, Artificial Intelligence, Medicine, Clinical Psychology, Life Sciences, Bioengineering,
social touch   sonification   emotion recognition   remote interaction   augmented perception  

Academic Background Touch is one of the earliest developed human senses and is crucial for physical and mental well-being. However, with the increasing prevalence of virtual communication, the lack of tactile interaction in remote exchanges may lead to psychological issues such as anxiety and loneliness. Previous studies have shown that touch can e...

Intercellular Contractile Force Attenuates Chemosensitivity Through Notch-MVP-Mediated Nuclear Drug Export

Medicine, Oncology, Life Sciences, Cell Biology, Bioengineering, Biophysics,
intercellular force   contractility   cell mechanics   mechanotransduction   chemosensitivity  

Academic Background Chemotherapy resistance is one of the major challenges in cancer treatment. Traditional research has primarily focused on biochemical mechanisms (e.g., drug efflux pumps, DNA repair, etc.), but in recent years, the role of biomechanical factors in tumor progression and drug resistance has gained increasing attention. Studies hav...

Unconventional Secretion of Park7 Requires Lysosomal Delivery via Chaperone-Mediated Autophagy and Specialized SNARE Complex

Medicine, Neurology, Life Sciences, Cell Biology, Biochemistry, Immunology, Biophysics,
unconventional secretion   Park7/DJ-1   autophagy   SNARE complex   oxidative stress  

1. Research Background The Parkinson’s disease-associated protein PARK7/DJ-1 (hereafter referred to as PARK7) is a multifunctional protein that plays critical roles in various pathological conditions including neurodegenerative diseases, cancer, and inflammation. Despite lacking a conventional N-terminal signal peptide sequence, PARK7 can be secret...

METTL3 Mediates Atheroprone Flow–Induced Glycolysis in Endothelial Cells

Medicine, Cardiovascular System, Life Sciences, Cell Biology, Biochemistry, Immunology,
glycolysis   endothelial cells   atherosclerosis   METTL3   flow   RNA modification   metabolic reprogramming  

1. Research Background Atherosclerosis is the primary pathological basis of cardiovascular diseases, closely associated with endothelial cell (EC) dysfunction. Hemodynamic factors play a critical role in the regional selectivity of atherosclerosis: oscillatory shear stress (OS) (e.g., at vascular bifurcations) promotes plaque formation, while pulsa...