An aminoacylation ribozyme evolved from a natural tRNA-sensing T-box riboswitch
March 23rd, 2020 by Satoshi Ishida
Nature Chemical Biology, Published online: 23 March 2020; doi:10.1038/s41589-020-0500-6
The authors develop a ribozyme, Tx2.1, that is capable of aminoacylating tRNA with specificity for the anticodon from directed evolution of a T-box riboswitch. Tx2.1 could be used to charge non-natural amino acids in an in vitro translation system.The origin of genomic <i>N</i><sup>6</sup>-methyl-deoxyadenosine in mammalian cells
March 23rd, 2020 by Michael U. Musheev
Nature Chemical Biology, Published online: 23 March 2020; doi:10.1038/s41589-020-0504-2
A metabolic labeling method reveals that genomic N6-methyl-deoxyadenosine in mammalian cell lines originates not from direct methylation in DNA, but from a misincorporation of the metabolite of ribo-N6-methyladenosine.A tell-tale absence
March 20th, 2020 by Caitlin Deane
Nature Chemical Biology, Published online: 20 March 2020; doi:10.1038/s41589-020-0513-1
A tell-tale absenceTick tock
March 20th, 2020 by Yiyun Song
Nature Chemical Biology, Published online: 20 March 2020; doi:10.1038/s41589-020-0515-z
Tick tockUnifying principles of bifunctional, proximity-inducing small molecules
March 20th, 2020 by Christopher J. Gerry
Nature Chemical Biology, Published online: 20 March 2020; doi:10.1038/s41589-020-0469-1
This Perspective describes the chemical and biophysical principles common to all bifunctional, proximity-inducing small molecules. It also discusses the underappreciated diversity of their chemical structures and biological mechanisms.Locked on target
March 20th, 2020 by Caitlin Deane
Nature Chemical Biology, Published online: 20 March 2020; doi:10.1038/s41589-020-0512-2
Locked on targetA gut reaction
March 20th, 2020 by Mirella Bucci
Nature Chemical Biology, Published online: 20 March 2020; doi:10.1038/s41589-020-0514-0
A gut reaction<span class=”small-caps”>d</span>-Cycloserine destruction by alanine racemase and the limit of irreversible inhibition
March 16th, 2020 by Cesira de Chiara
Nature Chemical Biology, Published online: 16 March 2020; doi:10.1038/s41589-020-0498-9
d-Cycloserine inactivates alanine racemase by forming an adduct with the pyridoxal 5′-phosphate cofactor, but structural and spectroscopic analyses reveal that reactivation occurs on adduct hydrolysis and product rearrangement to a stable oxime.Atomic structure of potato virus X, the prototype of the <i>Alphaflexiviridae</i> family
March 16th, 2020 by Alessandro Grinzato
Nature Chemical Biology, Published online: 16 March 2020; doi:10.1038/s41589-020-0502-4
A cryo-EM structure of potato virus X shows that virions are formed by repeats of segments of coat protein protomers arranged in a left-handed helical structure and reveals details of the RNA–capsid interactions, which shed light on virus assembly.A new path to tyrosine sulfation
March 16th, 2020 by Chang C. Liu
Nature Chemical Biology, Published online: 16 March 2020; doi:10.1038/s41589-020-0482-4
Tyrosine sulfation is a common post-translational modification known to play critical roles in multiple bioprocesses. A cleverly engineered mammalian expanded genetic code now enables the direct co-translational incorporation of tyrosine sulfates into proteins to study their function in cellular contexts.