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.
Insight on Research
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.
Antiviral Bicycles are effective against SARS-CoV-2
A collaborative study including researchers in Leo James’ group in the LMB’s PNAC Division and Bicycle Therapeutics has developed a new class of antivirals which can be combined together like building blocks to effectively immobilise COVID-19’s Spike protein and block infection.
Neuroprotective protein ADNP is vital to immune reactions to allergens
Using high-throughput CRISPR screening, researchers in Andrew McKenzie’s group in the LMB’s PNAC Division have identified a previously unknown immune-related role for ADNP and identified the molecular mechanism by which it regulates IL-13 expression in allergic immune responses.