A new drug targeting RAS, a pathologically altered protein causing 40% of colorectal and 90% of pancreatic cancers, has been developed. The molecular eraser, RIBOTAC, stops the production of RAS by degrading its mRNA, but surprisingly triggers changes in cancer cells despite minimal impact on protein quantity.
Researchers at Max Planck Institute of Molecular Physiology have discovered the genetic origin of the tiny and precise centromeres in brewer's yeast. They found that these centromeres evolved from a likely intermediate stage and were shaped by retrotransposons, providing a concrete genetic explanation for their unique structure.
Researchers have identified a new class of molecules that specifically degrade the cancer-promoting enzyme IDO1, offering a potential solution to enhance checkpoint-based immunotherapy. These IDO1 degraders may overcome limitations of previous inhibitors and open new avenues for treating various types of cancers.
Actin filaments play a crucial role in cell movement and stability. A trio of proteins - coronin, cofilin, and AIP1 - regulate their disassembly to prevent unproductive elongation and ensure optimal power transmission. The researchers used cryo-electron microscopy to visualize the molecular choreography, revealing coordinated steps and...
Scientists have created a high-potency IRE1 inhibitor with a unique inhibition mode that targets the unfolded protein response in cancer cells. This compound binds to the kinase pocket of IRE1, allosterically suppressing its RNAse activity and restoring proper protein folding.
The corona is a crucial structure in the kinetochore that ensures correct chromosome alignment and regulation of segregation. Scientists have discovered a dual-pathway assembly mechanism that drives corona formation from just two initial proteins.
A team of researchers has established the first comprehensive model of how calcium is transported out of the cell by the plasma membrane Ca²⁺-ATPase, explaining its high speed. The model reveals that PIP₂ stabilizes calcium binding and facilitates rapid release, making it the pump's primary acceleration factor.
A study by a trans-European research team reveals how DNA condensation during the cell cycle is regulated by a unique molecular switch. When cell division begins, the key enzyme CDK1 phosphorylates microcephalin and M18BP1, allowing condensin II to pack the DNA into sausage-shaped chromosomes.
A new study reveals how a promising Parkinson's drug works by inhibiting the enzyme USP30, which prevents damaged mitochondria from being degraded. This breakthrough could lead to targeted therapies for Parkinson's disease and chronic kidney disease.
Researchers have identified two new deubiquitinases, USP53 and USP54, which play a crucial role in removing polyubiquitin tags from proteins. This study suggests that mutations in the USP53 gene are associated with paediatric cholestasis, highlighting the potential for targeted treatment.
The Max Planck Institute team has developed a strategy to extend mRNA lifespan by protecting it from degradation. This protects potentially health-promoting proteins, such as tumor suppressors and nuclear receptors, from premature breakdown.
Researchers at MPI unveiled PLK1's crucial role in replenishing CENP-A proteins per centromere, a process critical for cell division. PLK1 initiates a cascade of events by binding to specific machinery components and inducing phosphorylation changes.
Researchers discovered beta-catenin as a new player in the formation of the main body axis during mammalian embryogenesis. A novel embryo-like model system was developed to identify this key player, revealing its importance in axis formation.
Researchers assess role of liquid-liquid phase separation drivers in cell division, revealing poor predictive power of established assays. Theoretical models fail to accurately predict protein interactions and localization in the complex cellular environment.
Researchers analyzed three distinct formins from fungi, mice, and humans, revealing a new paradigm in actin filament assembly. The structures show that formins encircle actin like an asymmetric ring, with one half stably bound and the other half loosely associated.
Researchers have identified the first inhibitors of the cancer-related RNA-modifier METTL16, which prevent its interaction with RNA. This breakthrough lays the foundation for novel RNA-targeting therapeutics and better investigation of METTL16's role in disease and health.
Researchers have identified and detailed the structure of Mcf1, a bacterial toxin that kills insects by disrupting essential proteins in their cells. The discovery has implications for developing new organic pest control agents and may also shed light on human diseases.
Research reveals that a small subset of bacterial cells produces deadly toxins while sacrificing themselves for the benefit of their comrades. The bacteria use a temperature-sensitive genetic switch to synchronize toxin production with cell enlargement, ensuring an efficient strategy for infection.
Researchers develop a novel protein killer and discover a new ligase for PROTACs, which can specifically target and degrade pathological proteins in specific tissues. This breakthrough could enable the targeted degradation of proteins in tumors.
Researchers at Max Planck Institute of Molecular Physiology developed an innovative imaging technique to visualize the cardiac thick filament in its native environment. The resulting high-resolution image reveals new insights into the molecular organization and function of the sarcomere, a crucial component of heart muscle contraction.
The discovery sheds light on the mechanism of phosphate release from actin filaments, which is crucial for cell movement and disassembly. The researchers found that phosphate escapes through a molecular backdoor in the filament core, but the door remains closed for most of the time.
Researchers have discovered that embryonic stem cells are guided by a complex interplay of signaling molecules to determine their cell type. The study found that fibroblast growth factor (FGF) acts as an antagonist of the signal molecule BMP, influencing cell differentiation and fate.
Researchers from Max Planck Institute identified mechanisms of deubiquitinating enzymes acting as Fubi proteases, regulating ribosomal protein maturation and modulating immune responses. This discovery expands understanding of post-translational modification systems and their roles in cellular processes.
Researchers discovered a protein complex called FERRY that plays a crucial role in transporting messenger RNA in neurons. The study provided evidence of the transport of mRNA using Early Endosomes (EEs) and a novel mode of binding RNA via coiled-coil domains.
Researchers have developed TomoTwin, an AI-based software that accurately identifies and localizes proteins in cells using electron cryo-tomography. This innovation expands the potential of cryo-ET to decipher biomolecule functions and unveil disease origins.
Researchers used cryo-EM to obtain high-resolution images of actin filaments in three states, revealing the movement of hundreds of water molecules and their role in ATP hydrolysis. The study provides new insights into the assembly and aging of actin filaments, potentially leading to therapeutic applications.
Researchers uncovered the sophisticated mechanism of bacterial Tc toxin's action by utilizing cryo-EM and protein NMR 3D snapshots. The subunits assemble like a syringe, triggering the release of toxic enzymes that disturb cytoskeleton regulation, leading to paralysis.
Researchers from Max Planck Institute have determined the 3D structural details of the human CCAN complex, highlighting its unique features and implications for interactions with centromere protein A. This discovery raises fundamental questions about creating artificial chromosomes.
Researchers have deciphered the structure of the kinetochore corona, a complex protein assembly that plays a pivotal role in chromosome segregation. The study, published in The EMBO Journal, provides new insights into how this critical process is regulated and offers a framework for future studies on cell division.
Researchers at Max Planck Institute of Molecular Physiology discovered that vaccination after COVID-19 recovery increases neutralizing antibody levels by up to five times, providing better protection against current coronavirus variants. The study involved 140 volunteers and showed that antibody levels remained high even after 300 days.
Researchers around Christian Schröter and Luis Morelli have discovered that ERK activity pulses every six to seven minutes in living stem cells, encoding differentiation information. This intermittent oscillation is believed to be a morse code-like mechanism that helps stem cells make decisions about fate.
Researchers from the Max Planck Institute have obtained the first high-resolution 3D image of the muscle protein nebulin using electron cryo-tomography. The structure reveals that each nebulin repeat binds with an actin subunit, acting as a ruler to dictate filament length and interacting with neighboring actin subunits to stabilize it.
Researchers have gained a deeper understanding of how bacteria use the type VI secretion system to develop toxins for battle. The discovery reveals that toxins are encapsulated in a capsule secured by a cork-like plug, which can be released upon mechanical force.
Researchers develop a method called Cell Painting that uses morphological profiling to detect side effects of substances on cells, enabling the identification of tubulin-modulating compounds. The study reveals over 1% of tested substances have this effect, including previously unknown reference substances.
Scientists have discovered new targets for insecticides by analyzing the structure of potassium channels in Drosophila. The study provides a detailed map of the channel, enabling the design of highly selective and safe insecticides.
Scientists at the Max Planck Institute have uncovered how ExoY toxin becomes activated in human cells by binding to actin filaments, leading to devastating enzymatic activity. This discovery sheds light on a crucial molecular mechanism that underlies the pathogenicity of various toxins.
Researchers found that stem cell specialization is dependent on communication between cells through messenger substances like growth factors. Even manipulating the 'dice' by artificially increasing GATA did not lead to arbitrary increases in fruit bladder precursor cells, indicating a need for more than chance in development.
Actin filaments generate pushing forces to move the cell membrane. The capping protein regulates filament growth, promoting branching near the membrane through the Arp2/3 complex. A high-resolution structure reveals that capping protein blocks nucleation-promoting factors via a tiny 'tentacle' extension.
Researchers identified bioactive substances that modulate cholesterol homeostasis, a common feature among many compounds. These findings suggest potential side effects of active substances and provide new insights into targeting cholesterol homeostasis, which may also impact SARS-CoV-2 infections.
Researchers at Max Planck Institute successfully rebuilt the kinetochore, a complex assembly of proteins that binds to microtubules, in vitro. The reconstruction is a significant milestone in understanding how the kinetochore functions and paves the way for creating synthetic chromosomes.
Researchers at Max Planck Institute used electron cryo-tomography to obtain detailed images of frozen muscle tissue, revealing the three-dimensional organisation of sarcomeres and their interacting filaments. The study provides new insights into muscle contraction and relaxation mechanisms.
Researchers from Max Planck Institute of Molecular Physiology have developed a cell-based assay that identifies highly potent IDO1 inhibitors with different mechanisms of action, which could lead to promising immunotherapies for cancer treatment. The new approach overcomes limitations of existing cell-free assays and holds promise for ...
Herbert Waldmann has been awarded the Richard Willstätter Prize for his groundbreaking work in chemical biology. He is recognized for developing novel approaches to create new active substances that can target specific biological processes, such as stopping cancer cell glucose uptake.