Sean Munro’s group in the LMB’s Cell Biology Division have investigated the potential biological significance of conserved genes of unknown function by developing an Unknome database to systematically analyse their identification and characterisation.
Insight on Research
TDP-43 forms amyloid filaments with distinct folds in different neurodegenerative conditions
Cryo-EM structures from the most common type of frontotemporal lobar degeneration, determined by Benjamin Ryskeldi-Falcon’s group in the LMB’s Neurobiology Division, reveals that TDP-43 forms amyloid filaments with distinct folds in different neurodegenerative conditions.
New insights into how DNA synthesis is started during the process of chromosome replication
By determining cryo-EM structures of budding yeast and human replisomes Joseph Yeeles group in the LMB’s PNAC Division reveal a conserved mechanism for the coordination of nascent-strand priming.
Keeping protein subunits in check via assembly quality control
Cells eliminate “orphan” proteins that have failed to assemble into the molecular machines within which they normally function. Manu Hegde’s group have now elucidated the mechanism by which one type of orphan is selectively recognised and tagged for destruction.
New pathway for cells to detect bacterial infection
Felix Randow’s group, in the LMB’s PNAC Division, have discovered TECPR1 as a novel E3 ligase, which, when sensing sphingomyelin on damaged membranes, conjugates the ubiquitin-like autophagy protein LC3 to those membranes.
Pore-forming protein perforin-2 is critical to immune response by dendritic cells
Patrycja Kozik’s group, in the LMB’s PNAC Division, find that the pore-forming protein perforin-2 is an effector of antigen escape in dendritic cells – a critical component to T cell mediated immune responses.