Insight on Research

Sean Munro’s group, in collaboration with Leo James’ group, have determined how the tail of the Spike protein of SARS-CoV-2 allows the virus to travel beyond the Golgi in order to reach the cell surface and direct fusion to neighbouring cells to form syncytia.

Single-cell RNA sequencing analysis of over 30,000 suprachiasmatic nucleus cells by Michael Hastings’ group in the LMB’s Neurobiology Division has identified specific cell populations and highlighted the role of Prokineticinsignalling network to the body’s circadian rhythm.

Many proteins in cells assemble into complex structures formed of multiple parts, often resulting in excess parts which are unusable. Now, Manu Hegde’s group have discovered a new pathway that degrades leftover components. Disruption of this pathway leads to neurodegeneration.

John Briggs’ group has provided the first description of HIV-1 matrix protein structures determined within both immature and mature authentic virus particles, showing how they rearrange on maturation of the virus ahead of infection of another cell.

While infected with SARS-CoV-2, our immune systems generate antibodies against both Spike (S) and Nucleoprotein (N). However, standard tests only show neutralisation for S-antibodies. Leo James’ group has developed a new assay that measures anti-viral activity of N-antibodies.

Although the cytoskeleton is known to play an important role in determining cell, and therefore organ, shape, how components of the cytoskeleton are reorganised during tube formation is unclear. Katja Röper’s group has identified a mechanism behind this.