ACS DIVISION OF BIOLOGICAL CHEMISTRY

September 17th, 2018 by Peter G. Wells

A new target for thalidomide

A new target for thalidomide, Published online: 17 September 2018; doi:10.1038/s41589-018-0134-0

One mechanism of thalidomide teratogenicity involves binding to the CUL4–CRBN E3 ubiquitin ligase complex, which then mediates the degradation of transcription factors. New studies reveal that species-specific variants of the transcription factor SALL4 are differentially ubiquitinated and degraded via the thalidomide-bound complex.

September 17th, 2018 by Grant Miura

Cost–benefit analysis

Cost–benefit analysis, Published online: 17 September 2018; doi:10.1038/s41589-018-0139-8

Cost–benefit analysis

September 17th, 2018 by Timothy P. Riley

T cell receptor cross-reactivity expanded by dramatic peptide–MHC adaptability

T cell receptor cross-reactivity expanded by dramatic peptide–MHC adaptability, Published online: 17 September 2018; doi:10.1038/s41589-018-0130-4

Structural analysis shows that cross-reactivity of the T cell receptor DMF5 is governed by adaptability of the peptide antigen, which can undergo TCR-binding-induced frameshifting forcing the peptide C terminus to extend from the MHC-binding groove.

September 17th, 2018 by Sébastien R. G. Galan

Post-translational site-selective protein backbone α-deuteration

Post-translational site-selective protein backbone α-deuteration, Published online: 17 September 2018; doi:10.1038/s41589-018-0128-y

A chemical method for site-selective deuterium exchange at protein backbone α-carbons, involving conversion of cysteine to dehydroalanine and then to deuterated cysteine, is used to explore the mechanism of a model protein bioconjugation reaction.

September 17th, 2018 by Albert A. Bowers

The substrate lends a hand

The substrate lends a hand, Published online: 17 September 2018; doi:10.1038/s41589-018-0135-z

Duramycin is a small post-translationally modified peptide with antibody-like affinity for phosphatidylethanolamine. As it turns out, the same functionality that is essential for duramycin activity helps to catalyze the formation of its conformationally constrained and compact polycyclic architecture.

September 17th, 2018 by Mirella Bucci

Fatal chemoattraction

Fatal chemoattraction, Published online: 17 September 2018; doi:10.1038/s41589-018-0140-2

Fatal chemoattraction

September 17th, 2018 by Stephanie Gras

Flipping out the peptide

Flipping out the peptide, Published online: 17 September 2018; doi:10.1038/s41589-018-0133-1

T cell cross-reactivity enables the immune system to recognize a large array of peptides. A new study shows that T cells can achieve cross-recognition by using the remarkable plasticity of peptides, through flipping the peptide out of the binding cleft.

September 17th, 2018 by Yiyun Song

Diversifying bases

Diversifying bases, Published online: 17 September 2018; doi:10.1038/s41589-018-0141-1

Diversifying bases

September 6th, 2018 by Mary E. Matyskiela

SALL4 mediates teratogenicity as a thalidomide-dependent cereblon substrate

SALL4 mediates teratogenicity as a thalidomide-dependent cereblon substrate, Published online: 06 September 2018; doi:10.1038/s41589-018-0129-x

Thalidomide-induced degradation of the transcription factor SALL4 in a cereblon-dependent manner provides an explanation for the teratogenic effects.

September 3rd, 2018 by Ravikrishna Ramanujam

Establishment of the PAR-1 cortical gradient by the aPKC-PRBH circuit

Establishment of the PAR-1 cortical gradient by the aPKC-PRBH circuit, Published online: 03 September 2018; doi:10.1038/s41589-018-0117-1

The asymmetric cortical gradient of PAR-1 is patterned via an integration of its cortical exclusion and stabilization by a circuit consisting of aPKC and the PRBH protein PAR-2.