bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory),
Journal Year:
2022,
Volume and Issue:
unknown
Published: Oct. 17, 2022
ABSTRACT
Deep
learning
algorithms
such
as
AlphaFold2
predict
three-dimensional
protein
structure
with
high
confidence.
The
recent
release
of
more
than
200
million
structural
models
provides
an
unprecedented
resource
for
functional
annotation.
Here,
we
used
predicted
structures
fifteen
plant
proteomes
to
functionally
and
evolutionary
analyze
cysteine
residues
in
the
kingdom.
In
addition
identification
metal
ligands
coordinated
by
residues,
systematically
analyzed
disulfides
present
these
predictions.
Our
analysis
demonstrates
most
are
trustworthy
due
their
agreement
(~96%)
those
X-ray
NMR
structures,
characteristic
disulfide
stereochemistry,
biased
subcellular
distribution
proteins
a
higher
degree
oxidation
respective
cysteines
measured
proteomics.
Adopting
perspective,
zinc
binding
sites
increasingly
at
expense
iron-sulfur
clusters
plants.
Interestingly,
formation
is
increased
secreted
land
plants,
likely
promoting
sequence
evolution
adapt
changing
environments
encountered
summary,
Alphafold2
rich
source
information
studying
role
interest
redox
biology
general.
Nucleic Acids Research,
Journal Year:
2023,
Volume and Issue:
51(4), P. 1528 - 1570
Published: Feb. 6, 2023
tRNAs
are
key
partners
in
ribosome-dependent
protein
synthesis.
This
process
is
highly
dependent
on
the
fidelity
of
tRNA
aminoacylation
by
aminoacyl-tRNA
synthetases
and
relies
primarily
sets
identities
within
molecules
composed
determinants
antideterminants
preventing
mischarging
non-cognate
synthetases.
Such
identity
were
discovered
a
few
model
organisms,
their
properties
generalized
as
universal
rules.
Since
then,
panel
elements
governing
accuracy
has
expanded
considerably,
but
increasing
number
reported
functional
idiosyncrasies
led
to
some
confusion.
In
parallel,
description
other
processes
involving
tRNAs,
often
well
beyond
aminoacylation,
progressed
greatly
expanding
interactome
uncovering
multiple
novel
same
molecule.
review
highlights
findings
mechanistics
evolution
tRNA-like
identities.
addition,
new
methods
results
for
searching
single
discussed.
Taken
together,
this
knowledge
shows
that
comprehensive
understanding
role
individual
collective
nucleotide
needed
medical,
biotechnological
applications.
Signal Transduction and Targeted Therapy,
Journal Year:
2025,
Volume and Issue:
10(1)
Published: March 7, 2025
Redox
signaling
acts
as
a
critical
mediator
in
the
dynamic
interactions
between
organisms
and
their
external
environment,
profoundly
influencing
both
onset
progression
of
various
diseases.
Under
physiological
conditions,
oxidative
free
radicals
generated
by
mitochondrial
respiratory
chain,
endoplasmic
reticulum,
NADPH
oxidases
can
be
effectively
neutralized
NRF2-mediated
antioxidant
responses.
These
responses
elevate
synthesis
superoxide
dismutase
(SOD),
catalase,
well
key
molecules
like
nicotinamide
adenine
dinucleotide
phosphate
(NADPH)
glutathione
(GSH),
thereby
maintaining
cellular
redox
homeostasis.
Disruption
this
finely
tuned
equilibrium
is
closely
linked
to
pathogenesis
wide
range
Recent
advances
have
broadened
our
understanding
molecular
mechanisms
underpinning
dysregulation,
highlighting
pivotal
roles
genomic
instability,
epigenetic
modifications,
protein
degradation,
metabolic
reprogramming.
findings
provide
foundation
for
exploring
regulation
mechanistic
basis
improving
therapeutic
strategies.
While
antioxidant-based
therapies
shown
early
promise
conditions
where
stress
plays
primary
pathological
role,
efficacy
diseases
characterized
complex,
multifactorial
etiologies
remains
controversial.
A
deeper,
context-specific
signaling,
particularly
redox-sensitive
proteins,
designing
targeted
aimed
at
re-establishing
balance.
Emerging
small
molecule
inhibitors
that
target
specific
cysteine
residues
proteins
demonstrated
promising
preclinical
outcomes,
setting
stage
forthcoming
clinical
trials.
In
review,
we
summarize
current
intricate
relationship
disease
also
discuss
how
these
insights
leveraged
optimize
strategies
practice.
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences,
Journal Year:
2024,
Volume and Issue:
121(39)
Published: Sept. 12, 2024
An
N-degron
is
a
degradation
signal
whose
main
determinant
“destabilizing”
N-terminal
residue
of
protein.
Specific
N-degrons,
discovered
in
1986,
were
the
first
identified
signals
short-lived
intracellular
proteins.
These
N-degrons
are
recognized
by
ubiquitin-dependent
proteolytic
system
called
Arg/N-degron
pathway.
Although
bacteria
lack
ubiquitin
system,
they
also
have
pathways.
Studies
after
1986
shown
that
all
20
amino
acids
genetic
code
can
act,
specific
sequence
contexts,
as
destabilizing
residues.
Eukaryotic
proteins
targeted
for
conditional
or
constitutive
at
least
five
systems
differ
both
functionally
and
mechanistically:
pathway,
Ac/N-degron
Pro/N-degron
fMet/N-degron
newly
named,
this
perspective,
GASTC/N-degron
pathway
(GASTC
=
Gly,
Ala,
Ser,
Thr,
Cys).
I
discuss
these
expanded
terminology
now
encompasses
entire
gamut
known
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences,
Journal Year:
2022,
Volume and Issue:
119(31)
Published: July 25, 2022
N-degron
pathways
are
proteolytic
systems
that
target
proteins
bearing
N-terminal
(Nt)
degradation
signals
(degrons)
called
N-degrons.
Nt-Arg
of
a
protein
is
among
Nt-residues
can
be
recognized
as
destabilizing
ones
by
the
Arg/N-degron
pathway.
A
cleavage
generate
Arg
at
N
terminus
resulting
C-terminal
(Ct)
fragment
either
directly
or
after
Nt-arginylation
Ct-fragment
Ate1
arginyl-tRNA-protein
transferase
(R-transferase),
which
uses
Arg-tRNA
cosubstrate.
Nt-arginylate
Nt-Asp,
Nt-Glu,
and
oxidized
Nt-Cys*
(Cys-sulfinate
Cys-sulfonate)
short
peptides.
genes
fungi,
animals,
plants
have
been
cloned
decades
ago,
but
three-dimensional
structure
remained
unknown.
detailed
mechanism
arginylation
unknown
well.
We
describe
here
crystal
R-transferase
from
budding
yeast
Kluyveromyces
lactis
.
The
58-kDa
comprises
two
domains
recognize,
together,
an
acidic
Nt-residue
acceptor
substrate,
residue
,
3′-proximal
segment
tRNA
moiety.
enzyme’s
active
site
located,
least
in
part,
between
domains.
In
vitro
vivo
assays
with
site-directed
mutants
were
suggested
structural
results
yielded
inferences
about
specific
binding
sites
Ate1.
also
analyzed
inhibition
activity
hemin
(Fe
3+
-heme),
found
induced
previously
undescribed
disulfide-mediated
oligomerization
Together,
these
advance
understanding
Nature Communications,
Journal Year:
2023,
Volume and Issue:
14(1)
Published: April 19, 2023
Abstract
Arginyl-tRNA-protein
transferase
1
(ATE1)
is
a
master
regulator
of
protein
homeostasis,
stress
response,
cytoskeleton
maintenance,
and
cell
migration.
The
diverse
functions
ATE1
arise
from
its
unique
enzymatic
activity
to
covalently
attach
an
arginine
onto
substrates
in
tRNA-dependent
manner.
However,
how
(and
other
aminoacyl-tRNA
transferases)
hijacks
tRNA
the
highly
efficient
ribosomal
synthesis
pathways
catalyzes
arginylation
reaction
remains
mystery.
Here,
we
describe
three-dimensional
structures
Saccharomyces
cerevisiae
with
without
cofactor.
Importantly,
putative
substrate
binding
domain
adopts
previously
uncharacterized
fold
that
contains
atypical
zinc-binding
site
critical
for
stability
function.
recognition
Arg
by
coordinated
through
interactions
major
groove
acceptor
arm
tRNA.
Binding
induces
conformational
changes
helps
explain
mechanism
arginylation.
Nature Communications,
Journal Year:
2024,
Volume and Issue:
15(1)
Published: July 28, 2024
The
arginyl-transferase
ATE1
is
a
tRNA-dependent
enzyme
that
covalently
attaches
an
arginine
molecule
to
protein
substrate.
Conserved
from
yeast
humans,
deficiency
in
mice
correlates
with
defects
cardiovascular
development
and
angiogenesis
results
embryonic
lethality,
while
conditional
knockouts
exhibit
reproductive,
developmental,
neurological
deficiencies.
Despite
the
recent
revelation
of
tRNA
binding
mechanism
catalytic
cycle
ATE1,
structure-function
relationship
higher
organisms
not
well
understood.
In
this
study,
we
present
three-dimensional
structure
human
apo-state
complex
its
cofactor
peptide
contrast
counterpart,
forms
symmetric
homodimer,
which
dissociates
upon
Furthermore,
includes
unique
extended
loop
wraps
around
tRNAArg,
creating
extensive
contacts
T-arm
cofactor.
Substituting
key
residues
identified
substrate
site
abolishes
enzymatic
activity
accumulation
substrates
cells.
essential
gene
mammals
recognized
as
master
regulator
Here,
authors
describe
structural
insights
into
revealing
mechanisms
regulate
arginylation
bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory),
Journal Year:
2025,
Volume and Issue:
unknown
Published: Jan. 22, 2025
Abstract
Hypoxia,
a
condition
characterized
by
insufficient
oxygen
supply,
challenges
cellular
homeostasis
and
energy
production,
driving
the
activation
of
adaptive
responses
to
maintain
survival
under
these
stress-inducing
conditions.
One
key
strategy
involves
enzymatic
oxidation
N-terminal
cysteine
residues
coupled
with
proteolysis
through
Cys-Arg/N-degron
pathway.
Despite
presence
hundreds
proteins
in
humans,
only
two
have
been
identified
as
substrates
this
pathway,
its
substrate
selectivity
remains
unclear.
Moreover,
biological
role
pathway
response
hypoxia
is
not
well
defined.
By
employing
systematic
proteomics
approach,
we
discovered
that
nearly
half
cysteine-commencing
proteome
could
be
regulated
Mutagenesis
experiments
revealed
specificty
showing
preference
for
hydrophobic
positively
charged
following
cysteine.
Furthermore,
uncovered
are
during
hypoxia,
including
IP6K1.
The
loss
IP6K1
impaired
glucose
uptake,
glycolytic
ATP
overall
mitochondrial
morphology
function.
As
result,
IP6K1-deficient
cells
exhibited
disrupted
metabolic
adaptation
hypoxic
conditions
decreased
stress.
These
findings
underscore
importance
regulating
highlight
potential
hypoxia-related
disorders.
bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory),
Journal Year:
2024,
Volume and Issue:
unknown
Published: June 2, 2024
Abstract
Protein
arginylation
is
an
essential
posttranslational
modification
(PTM)
catalyzed
by
arginyl-tRNA-protein
transferase
1
(ATE1)
in
mammalian
systems.
Arginylation
features
a
post-translational
conjugation
of
arginyl
to
protein,
making
it
extremely
challenging
differentiate
from
translational
arginine
residues
with
the
same
mass
protein
sequence.
Here
we
present
general
activity-based
profiling
(ABAP)
platform
for
unbiased
discovery
substrates
and
their
precise
sites.
This
method
integrates
isotopic
labeling
into
ATE1
assay
utilizing
biological
lysates
(
ex
vivo
)
rather
than
live
cells,
thus
eliminating
bias
derived
ribosomal
activity
enabling
bona
fide
identification
using
features.
ABAP
has
been
successfully
applied
array
peptide,
cell,
patient,
animal
tissue
samples
20
µg
sample
input,
229
unique
sites
revealed
human
proteomes.
Representative
were
validated
followed
up
functions.
The
developed
globally
applicable
aforementioned
types
therefore
paves
way
functional
studies
this
difficult-to-characterize
modification.