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Bile salt hydrolases encoded by the gut microbiome shape the bile acid pool, including microbial conjugated bile acids, which impact Clostridioides difficile infection in the murine gut.

The human gut microbiome has a substantial impact on human health. Here, the authors find that prominent human gut microbes express functionally distinct surface endo-β-N-acetylglucosaminidases encoded by different polysaccharide utilization loci to optimally metabolize the same oligomannose N-glycan substrate in the gastrointestinal tract.

Here, the relationship between unfolding and amyloid aggregation of glaucoma-associated myocilin is probed, showing that myocilin is not at equilibrium and pathogenic aggregation competes directly with unfolding.

Anti-integrin therapy inhibits lymphocyte trafficking in ulcerative colitis. Here Mennillo et al. use single-cell and spatial -omics to show modulation of mononuclear phagocytes and other networks, identifying gene sets related to treatment response.

Bhardwaj et al., have explored the proteomes of SARS-CoV and SARS-CoV-2, and have demonstrated the amyloid formation of viral proteins, in vitro, through diverse biophysical techniques.

Baroreflex control of cardiac contractility is essential to maintain cardiocirculatory homeostasis. Here, Oda et al show that α1 adrenoceptor-stimulated Zn2+ entry through TRPC6 channels boosts β adrenoceptor-dependent myocardial positive inotropy.

MR1 functions as an antigen presenting protein on cells in addition to MAIT cells. Here the authors use an early T cell-specific Bcl11b-deficient mouse that develops autoimmunity through a population of nonconventional MR1-restricted T cells and characterise their function.

Trypanosomes evade the immune response through antigenic variation of a surface coat containing variant surface glycoproteins (VSG). They also express invariant surface glycoproteins (ISGs), which are less well understood. Here, Macleod et al. show that ISG65 of T. brucei is a receptor for complement component 3. They provide the crystal structure of T. brucei ISG65 in complex with complement C3d and show evidence that ISG65 is involved in reducing trypanosome susceptibility to C3-mediated clearance in vivo.

A mitochondrial-targeted acyl protein thioesterase inhibitor enables the identification of ABHD10 as a mitochondrial S-depalmitoylase that acts on the nucleophilic active site residue of peroxiredoxin-5 to modulate its antioxidant capacity.

Neutralizing antibodies (bNAbs) against HIV-1 are exclusively directed against the viral envelope protein (Env) and mainly target Env in a closed, prefusion state. Here, Yang et al. structurally characterize two heterologously-neutralizing CD4-binding site (CD4bs) antibodies isolated from sequentially immunized macaques, and show that these antibodies recognize the CD4bs on Env trimers in an „occluded-open‟ conformation between closed, as targeted by bNAbs, and fully-open, as recognized by CD4.

The transcriptional activator PafBC is a regulator of mycobacterial DNA damage response and upregulates genes involved in DNA repair. Here, the authors present the crystal structure of Arthrobacter aurescens PafBC and suggest that PafBC might be activated by binding of a nucleic acid ligand, and bioinformatics analysis shows that its central WYL domain is a widespread feature in bacterial transcription factors.

Serial synchrotron crystallography reveals the structure of the human glycine transporter GlyT1, showing how a state-specific inhibitor exerts its effects, and potentially informing the design of new GlyT1 inhibitors to treat a range of disorders of the central nervous system.

Keloids are fibroproliferative scars with higher prevalence in individuals of African and Asian ancestry. Here, the authors perform a multi-ancestry GWAS identifying 26 loci and pathways linked to fibrosis, integrin signalling, and hormone regulation.

The unfolded protein response (UPR) is a cellular stress response related to endoplasmic reticulum stress, which is activated upon stress challenging. Here, the authors report that the programmed cell death regulator BAP2 is a plant UPR modulator upstream of the essential UPR master regulator IRE1.

Mixed Lineage Kinase Domain-Like (MLKL) pseudokinase is phosphorylated by RIPK3 kinase prior to cell death by necroptosis. Here, the authors use monobodies that bind to the MLKL pseudokinase domain as tools, which allowed them to determine the crystal structures of the MLKL pseudokinase domain in two distinct conformations. By combining their structural data with cell signalling assays and MD simulations they provide evidence that endogenous MLKL preassociates with its upstream regulator RIPK3, and that MLKL disengages from RIPK3 following the induction of necroptosis.

Exercise promotes motor skill learning via unclear mechanisms. Here, the authors show that running wheel training results in neurotransmitter switching in caudal pedunculopontine nucleus neurons of mice. These neurons project to several brain regions, regulating the acquisition of motor skills.

VRC01-class bNAbs against the CD4 binding site of HIV-1 Env are targets of vaccine design. Here, the authors structurally characterized germline versions of the VRC01-class bNAb, BG24, bound to Env. They reveal mechanisms of germline binding, informing the design of VRC01-class targeting immunogens.

Light-driven sodium-pumping rhodopsins are unique ion transporters. Here, authors present a characterization of such rhodopsins with a modified active center allowing for efficient sodium transport under various environmental conditions.

Structures of 5-lipoxygenase (5-LOX) reveal that NDGA disturbs regions that shield the active site while AKBA binds an allosteric site. NDGA inhibits 5-LOX activity using its redox-active function, while AKBA changes the enzyme’s regiospecificity

ParA is an ATPase involved in the segregation of newly replicated DNA in bacteria. Here, structures of a ParA filament bound to DNA and of ParA in various nucleotide states offer insight into its conformational changes upon DNA binding and filament assembly, including the basis for ParA’s cooperative binding to DNA.

OqxB is an RND (Resistance-Nodulation-Division) transporter that contributes to the antibiotic resistance in Klebsiella pneumoniae. Here, the authors report structural and functional characterization of OqxB, with insights into its substrate binding pocket and the role in fluoroquinolone resistance.

Cold exposure activates thermogenesis and fatty acid oxidation in brown fat, a process suppressed by Them1. Here, the authors show that cold induces Them1 phosphorylation and loss of puncta that suppress fatty acid use, leading to a diffuse localization and increased energy expenditure in mice.

Faecal carbohydrates, particularly host-accessible monosaccharides, are increased in individuals with insulin resistance and are associated with microbial carbohydrate metabolisms and host inflammatory cytokines.

HLA-C expression levels correlate with immune responses to pathogens and autoimmunity, and vary in an allele-specific manner across individuals. Here the authors identify factors that drive differential expression of HLA-C allomorphs at the cell surface, and influence the structure of the peptide-binding cleft and diversity of peptides bound by HLA-C molecules.

A genome-wide association meta-analysis study of blood lipid levels in roughly 1.6 million individuals demonstrates the gain of power attained when diverse ancestries are included to improve fine-mapping and polygenic score generation, with gains in locus discovery related to sample size.

OPCML is a tumour suppressor gene that is epigenetically silenced in ovarian cancer and is somatically mutated in various cancers. Here, the authors solve the X-ray crystal structure of OPCML and model clinically relevant mutations that could contribute to tumorigenesis.

X-ray crystallography, solution NMR and biochemical and cell-based analyses reveal a model where catalytically repressed receptor tyrosine kinases accomplish activation loop (A-loop) tyrosine transphosphorylation.

Molnupiravir is an antiviral that forces lethal error catastrophe in SARS-CoV-2 RNAs. Here, the authors confirm the mechanism of action of molnupiravir in humans using samples obtained from the UK’s AGILE phase IIa clinical trial investigating the antiviral efficacy of the drug against SARS-CoV-2. No treatment-associated SARS-CoV-2 mutations were identified.

Currently many of the time resolved serial femtosecond (SFX) crystallography experiments are done with light driven protein systems, whereas the reaction initiation for non-light triggered enzymes remains a major bottle neck. Here, the authors present an expanded Drop-on-Tape system, where picoliter-sized droplets of a substrate or inhibitor are turbulently mixed with nanoliter sized droplets of microcrystal slurries, and they use it for time-resolved SFX measurements of inhibitor binding to lysozyme and secondly, binding of a β-lactam antibiotic to a bacterial serine β-lactamase.

The insertion of magnesium into protoporphyrin starts the biosynthesis of chlorophyll. X-ray crystallography, computational modelling, mutagenesis and enzymology combined probe the magnesium chelatase complex’s structure and catalytic function.

The T cell receptor β-chain is expressed in two isoforms, TRBC1 and TRBC2, with clonally expanded mature T cell lymphomas expressing one of them exclusively, while healthy T cells randomly express either TRBC1 or TRBC2. Here authors show structure-based design of a TRBC2-specific antibody, and depletion of malignant T cells carrying TRBC1 or TRBC2 with CAR-T cells against the cognate receptor chain in murine models.

The immunoglobulin domain framework of antibodies has been a long standing design challenge. Here, the authors describe design rules for tailoring these domains and show they can be accurately designed, de novo, with high stability and the ability to scaffold functional loops.

ZnT7 is a Golgi-localized Zn2 + /H+ antiporter. Here the authors present the cryo-EM structures of human ZnT7 in Zn2 + -bound and unbound forms, shedding light on its mechanism of Zn2+ transport.

Anthocyanins are used in the food and cosmetic industries. Due to the insufficient production in alternative hosts, they are still isolated from plants. Now, this study suggests an important catalytic role of glutathione transferases for the efficient biosynthesis of these natural products.

Using large-scale screening and structure-guided mutagenesis, fast and sensitive GCaMP sensors are developed and optimized with improved kinetics without compromising sensitivity or brightness.

Changes in glycoprotein expression are correlates of disease, but secreted glycoproteins cannot be accurately traced to their cell line of origin. Here, the authors develop a strategy to chemically tag and profile glycoproteins in a cell line-specific manner in co-culture systems and in vivo.

Two degraders targeting zinc finger transcription factor IKZF2 (Helios) were developed by reprogramming CRL4^CRBN E3 ligase, and the pharmacologic degradation of Helios results in T_reg destabilization.

The underlying transcriptional and cellular events mediating the reduction of dendritic spines on medium spiny neurons of the nucleus accumbens (NAc) remains unknown. Here, authors demonstrate that heroin self-administration negatively regulates the actin-binding protein drebrin in the NAc, which is shown to be transcriptionally repressed by the histone modifier HDAC2, and that overexpression of drebrin is sufficient to decrease drug seeking and increase dendritic spine density

Eight structures of human neutralizing antibodies that target the SARS-CoV-2 spike receptor-binding domain are reported and classified into four categories, suggesting combinations for clinical use.

The Na⁺-pumping KR2 rhodopsin from Krokinobacter eikastus is a light-driven non-proton cation pump whose mechanism of pumping remains to be understood. Here authors solved crystal structures of the O-intermediate state of the pentameric form of KR2 and its D116N and H30A mutants, which sheds light on the mechanism of non-proton cation light-driven pumping.

MreC is a membrane-associated protein that modulates the activity of the elongasome, a protein complex that controls cell wall formation in rod-shaped bacteria. Here, the authors use electron cryo-microscopy and X-ray crystallography to determine the structure of a self-associated form of MreC in atomic detail.

Beginning with a functional site and building a supporting scaffold around it enables the de novo design of proteins with distinct binding motifs for use in biosensors to detect antibody responses and as ligands of synthetic signaling receptors.

In type I-D CRISPR–Cas systems, the nuclease and helicase activities are carried out by separate subunits. The crystal structure of Sulfolobus islandicus type I-D large subunit Cas10d, containing a nuclease domain, reveals unusual architecture. The structure of Cas10d in complex with anti-CRISPR protein AcrID1 suggests that the latter sequesters Cas10d in a nonfunctional state.