The Hsp104 disaggregase is a two-ring ATPase machine that rescues various forms of non-native proteins including the highly resistant amyloid fibers. The structural-mechanistic underpinnings of how the recovery of toxic protein aggregates is promoted and how this potent unfolding activity is prevented from doing collateral damage to cellular proteins are not well understood. Here, we present structural and biochemical data revealing the organization of Hsp104 from Chaetomium thermophilum at 3.7 A resolution. We show that the coiled-coil domains encircling the disaggregase constitute a 'restraint mask' that sterically controls the mobility and thus the unfolding activity of the ATPase modules. In addition, we identify a mechanical linkage that coordinates the activity of the two ATPase rings and accounts for the high unfolding potential of Hsp104. Based on these findings, we propose a general model for how Hsp104 and related chaperones operate and are kept under control until recruited to appropriate substrates.

Structural basis for the disaggregase activity and regulation of Hsp104.

Across the blood-brain barrier: Neurotherapeutic screening and characterization of naringenin as a novel CRMP-2 inhibitor in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease using bioinformatics and computational tools

The emergence of a drug resistant non-receptor tyrosine kinase (c-Src) in triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) remains a prime concern in relation to the burden of TNBC among people living with breast cancer and drug development. Thr91 mutation was found to induce a complete loss of protein conformation required for drug fitness. Herein, we provide the first account of the molecular impact of the Thr91 mutation on c-Src resistance to experimental drug UM-164 using various computational approaches, namely molecular dynamics simulation, principal component analysis (PCA), dynamic cross-correlation matrices (DCCM) analysis, hydrogen bond occupancy, thermodynamics calculation, ligand-residue interaction and residue interaction networks (RINs). Findings from this study revealed that Thr91 mutation leads to a steric conflict between UM-164 and the side chain of methionine (Met91); this mutation distorts the UM-164 optimum orientation on the conformational space of mutant c-Src compared to the wild-type; decreases hydrogen bond formation between the residues in the mutant protein structure; decreases the UM-164 binding energy in the mutant by -13.416 kcal mol-1; reduces the residue correlation in the mutant protein structure; induces a change in the overall protein structure conformation from an inactive to active conformation; and distorts the ligand atomic interaction network and the residue interaction network. This report provides important insights that will assist in the further design of novel dual kinase inhibitors to minimise the chances of drug resistance in triple negative breast cancer.

The impact of Thr91 mutation on c-Src resistance to UM-164: molecular dynamics study revealed a new opportunity for drug design.

An extensive comparative study for microstructural properties and crystal imperfections of Novel sprayed Cu3SbSe3 Nanoparticle-thin films of different thicknesses

E. Seifert

Papers

OriginPro 9.1: Scientific Data Analysis and Graphing Software—Software Review