{"title":"Mechanisms of Inheritance of Chromatin States: From Yeast to Human.","authors":"Hiten D Madhani","doi":"10.1146/annurev-biophys-070524-091904","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-biophys-070524-091904","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>In this article I review mechanisms that underpin epigenetic inheritance of CpG methylation and histone H3 lysine 9 methylation (H3K9me) in chromatin in fungi and mammals. CpG methylation can be faithfully inherited epigenetically at some sites for a lifetime in vertebrates and, remarkably, can be propagated for millions of years in some fungal lineages. Transmission of methylation patterns requires maintenance-type DNA methyltransferases (DNMTs) that recognize hemimethylated CpG DNA produced by replication. DNMT1 is the maintenance enzyme in vertebrates; we recently identified DNMT5 as an ATP-dependent CpG maintenance enzyme found in fungi and protists. In vivo, CpG methylation is coupled to H3K9me. H3K9me is itself reestablished after replication via local histone H3-H4 tetramer recycling involving mobile and nonmobile chaperones, de novo nucleosome assembly, and read-write mechanisms that modify naive nucleosomes. Additional proteins recognize hemimethylated CpG or fully methylated CpG-containing motifs and enhance restoration of methylation by recruiting and/or activating the maintenance methylase.</p>","PeriodicalId":50756,"journal":{"name":"Annual Review of Biophysics","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":10.4,"publicationDate":"2024-12-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142883280","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Collapse and Protein Folding: Should We Be Surprised that Biothermodynamics Works So Well?","authors":"Tobin R Sosnick, Michael C Baxa","doi":"10.1146/annurev-biophys-080124-123012","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-biophys-080124-123012","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>A complete understanding of protein function and dynamics requires the characterization of the multiple thermodynamic states, including the denatured state ensemble (DSE). Whereas residual structure in the DSE (as well as in partially folded states) is pertinent in many biological contexts, here we are interested in how such structure affects protein thermodynamics. We examine issues related to chain collapse in light of new developments, focusing on potential complications arising from differences in the DSE's properties under various conditions. Despite some variability in the degree of collapse and structure in the DSE, stability measurements are remarkably consistent between two standard methods, calorimetry and chemical denaturation, as well as with hydrogen-deuterium exchange. This robustness is due in part to the DSEs obtained with different perturbations being thermodynamically equivalent and hence able to serve as a common reference state. An examination of the properties of the DSE points to it as being a highly expanded ensemble with minimal amounts of stable hydrogen bonded structure. These two features are likely to be critical in the broad and successful application of thermodynamics to protein folding. Our review concludes with a discussion of the impact of these findings on folding mechanisms and pathways.</p>","PeriodicalId":50756,"journal":{"name":"Annual Review of Biophysics","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":10.4,"publicationDate":"2024-12-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142848343","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Protein Modeling with DEER Spectroscopy.","authors":"Maxx H Tessmer, Stefan Stoll","doi":"10.1146/annurev-biophys-030524-013431","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-biophys-030524-013431","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Double electron-electron resonance (DEER) combined with site-directed spin labeling can provide distance distributions between selected protein residues to investigate protein structure and conformational heterogeneity. The utilization of the full quantitative information contained in DEER data requires effective protein and spin label modeling methods. Here, we review the application of DEER data to protein modeling. First, we discuss the significance of spin label modeling for accurate extraction of protein structural information and review the most popular label modeling methods. Next, we review several important aspects of protein modeling with DEER, including site selection, how DEER restraints are applied, common artifacts, and the unique potential of DEER data for modeling structural ensembles and conformational landscapes. Finally, we discuss common applications of protein modeling with DEER data and provide an outlook.</p>","PeriodicalId":50756,"journal":{"name":"Annual Review of Biophysics","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":10.4,"publicationDate":"2024-12-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142848345","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Annual Review of BiophysicsPub Date : 2024-07-01Epub Date: 2024-06-28DOI: 10.1146/annurev-biophys-030722-020555
McKenze J Moss, Laura M Chamness, Patricia L Clark
{"title":"The Effects of Codon Usage on Protein Structure and Folding.","authors":"McKenze J Moss, Laura M Chamness, Patricia L Clark","doi":"10.1146/annurev-biophys-030722-020555","DOIUrl":"10.1146/annurev-biophys-030722-020555","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The rate of protein synthesis is slower than many folding reactions and varies depending on the synonymous codons encoding the protein sequence. Synonymous codon substitutions thus have the potential to regulate cotranslational protein folding mechanisms, and a growing number of proteins have been identified with folding mechanisms sensitive to codon usage. Typically, these proteins have complex folding pathways and kinetically stable native structures. Kinetically stable proteins may fold only once over their lifetime, and thus, codon-mediated regulation of the pioneer round of protein folding can have a lasting impact. Supporting an important role for codon usage in folding, conserved patterns of codon usage appear in homologous gene families, hinting at selection. Despite these exciting developments, there remains few experimental methods capable of quantifying translation elongation rates and cotranslational folding mechanisms in the cell, which challenges the development of a predictive understanding of how biology uses codons to regulate protein folding.</p>","PeriodicalId":50756,"journal":{"name":"Annual Review of Biophysics","volume":" ","pages":"87-108"},"PeriodicalIF":10.4,"publicationDate":"2024-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11227313/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"138886545","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Annual Review of BiophysicsPub Date : 2024-07-01Epub Date: 2024-06-28DOI: 10.1146/annurev-biophys-030822-032904
Gabriella N L Chua, Shixin Liu
{"title":"When Force Met Fluorescence: Single-Molecule Manipulation and Visualization of Protein-DNA Interactions.","authors":"Gabriella N L Chua, Shixin Liu","doi":"10.1146/annurev-biophys-030822-032904","DOIUrl":"10.1146/annurev-biophys-030822-032904","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Myriad DNA-binding proteins undergo dynamic assembly, translocation, and conformational changes while on DNA or alter the physical configuration of the DNA substrate to control its metabolism. It is now possible to directly observe these activities-often central to the protein function-thanks to the advent of single-molecule fluorescence- and force-based techniques. In particular, the integration of fluorescence detection and force manipulation has unlocked multidimensional measurements of protein-DNA interactions and yielded unprecedented mechanistic insights into the biomolecular processes that orchestrate cellular life. In this review, we first introduce the different experimental geometries developed for single-molecule correlative force and fluorescence microscopy, with a focus on optical tweezers as the manipulation technique. We then describe the utility of these integrative platforms for imaging protein dynamics on DNA and chromatin, as well as their unique capabilities in generating complex DNA configurations and uncovering force-dependent protein behaviors. Finally, we give a perspective on the future directions of this emerging research field.</p>","PeriodicalId":50756,"journal":{"name":"Annual Review of Biophysics","volume":" ","pages":"169-191"},"PeriodicalIF":10.4,"publicationDate":"2024-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"139492494","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Annual Review of BiophysicsPub Date : 2024-07-01Epub Date: 2024-06-28DOI: 10.1146/annurev-biophys-030822-035656
Jing Xie, Wilhelm T S Huck, Min Bao
{"title":"Unveiling the Intricate Connection: Cell Volume as a Key Regulator of Mechanotransduction.","authors":"Jing Xie, Wilhelm T S Huck, Min Bao","doi":"10.1146/annurev-biophys-030822-035656","DOIUrl":"10.1146/annurev-biophys-030822-035656","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The volumes of living cells undergo dynamic changes to maintain the cells' structural and functional integrity in many physiological processes. Minor fluctuations in cell volume can serve as intrinsic signals that play a crucial role in cell fate determination during mechanotransduction. In this review, we discuss the variability of cell volume and its role in vivo, along with an overview of the mechanisms governing cell volume regulation. Additionally, we provide insights into the current approaches used to control cell volume in vitro. Furthermore, we summarize the biological implications of cell volume regulation and discuss recent advances in understanding the fundamental relationship between cell volume and mechanotransduction. Finally, we delve into the potential underlying mechanisms, including intracellular macromolecular crowding and cellular mechanics, that govern the global regulation of cell fate in response to changes in cell volume. By exploring the intricate interplay between cell volume and mechanotransduction, we underscore the importance of considering cell volume as a fundamental signaling cue to unravel the basic principles of mechanotransduction. Additionally, we propose future research directions that can extend our current understanding of cell volume in mechanotransduction. Overall, this review highlights the significance of considering cell volume as a fundamental signal in understanding the basic principles in mechanotransduction and points out the possibility of controlling cell volume to control cell fate, mitigate disease-related damage, and facilitate the healing of damaged tissues.</p>","PeriodicalId":50756,"journal":{"name":"Annual Review of Biophysics","volume":" ","pages":"299-317"},"PeriodicalIF":10.4,"publicationDate":"2024-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"139998196","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Translation Dynamics of Single mRNAs in Live Cells.","authors":"Tatsuya Morisaki, O'Neil Wiggan, Timothy J Stasevich","doi":"10.1146/annurev-biophys-030822-034116","DOIUrl":"10.1146/annurev-biophys-030822-034116","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The translation of messenger RNA (mRNA) into proteins represents the culmination of gene expression. Recent technological advances have revolutionized our ability to investigate this process with unprecedented precision, enabling the study of translation at the single-molecule level in real time within live cells. In this review, we provide an overview of single-mRNA translation reporters. We focus on the core technology, as well as the rapid development of complementary probes, tags, and accessories that enable the visualization and quantification of a wide array of translation dynamics. We then highlight notable studies that have utilized these reporters in model systems to address key biological questions. The high spatiotemporal resolution of these studies is shedding light on previously unseen phenomena, uncovering the full heterogeneity and complexity of translational regulation.</p>","PeriodicalId":50756,"journal":{"name":"Annual Review of Biophysics","volume":" ","pages":"65-85"},"PeriodicalIF":10.4,"publicationDate":"2024-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11633447/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"138886546","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Annual Review of BiophysicsPub Date : 2024-07-01Epub Date: 2024-06-28DOI: 10.1146/annurev-biophys-030722-021359
Michelle S Frei, Sohum Mehta, Jin Zhang
{"title":"Next-Generation Genetically Encoded Fluorescent Biosensors Illuminate Cell Signaling and Metabolism.","authors":"Michelle S Frei, Sohum Mehta, Jin Zhang","doi":"10.1146/annurev-biophys-030722-021359","DOIUrl":"10.1146/annurev-biophys-030722-021359","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Genetically encoded fluorescent biosensors have revolutionized the study of cell signaling and metabolism, as they allow for live-cell measurements with high spatiotemporal resolution. This success has spurred the development of tailor-made biosensors that enable the study of dynamic phenomena on different timescales and length scales. In this review, we discuss different approaches to enhancing and developing new biosensors. We summarize the technologies used to gain structural insights into biosensor design and comment on useful screening technologies. Furthermore, we give an overview of different applications where biosensors have led to key advances over recent years. Finally, we give our perspective on where future work is bound to make a large impact.</p>","PeriodicalId":50756,"journal":{"name":"Annual Review of Biophysics","volume":" ","pages":"275-297"},"PeriodicalIF":10.4,"publicationDate":"2024-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"139724897","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Annual Review of BiophysicsPub Date : 2024-07-01Epub Date: 2024-06-28DOI: 10.1146/annurev-biophys-030722-111729
Barbara Hribar-Lee, Miha Lukšič
{"title":"Biophysical Principles Emerging from Experiments on Protein-Protein Association and Aggregation.","authors":"Barbara Hribar-Lee, Miha Lukšič","doi":"10.1146/annurev-biophys-030722-111729","DOIUrl":"10.1146/annurev-biophys-030722-111729","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Protein-protein association and aggregation are fundamental processes that play critical roles in various biological phenomena, from cellular signaling to disease progression. Understanding the underlying biophysical principles governing these processes is crucial for elucidating their mechanisms and developing strategies for therapeutic intervention. In this review, we provide an overview of recent experimental studies focused on protein-protein association and aggregation. We explore the key biophysical factors that influence these processes, including protein structure, conformational dynamics, and intermolecular interactions. We discuss the effects of environmental conditions such as temperature, pH and related buffer-specific effects, and ionic strength and related ion-specific effects on protein aggregation. The effects of polymer crowders and sugars are also addressed. We list the techniques used to study aggregation. We analyze emerging trends and challenges in the field, including the development of computational models and the integration of multidisciplinary approaches for a comprehensive understanding of protein-protein association and aggregation.</p>","PeriodicalId":50756,"journal":{"name":"Annual Review of Biophysics","volume":" ","pages":"1-18"},"PeriodicalIF":10.4,"publicationDate":"2024-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"71428740","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Annual Review of BiophysicsPub Date : 2024-07-01Epub Date: 2024-06-28DOI: 10.1146/annurev-biophys-030722-125440
Lauren O Chisholm, Kona N Orlandi, Sophia R Phillips, Michael J Shavlik, Michael J Harms
{"title":"Ancestral Reconstruction and the Evolution of Protein Energy Landscapes.","authors":"Lauren O Chisholm, Kona N Orlandi, Sophia R Phillips, Michael J Shavlik, Michael J Harms","doi":"10.1146/annurev-biophys-030722-125440","DOIUrl":"10.1146/annurev-biophys-030722-125440","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>A protein's sequence determines its conformational energy landscape. This, in turn, determines the protein's function. Understanding the evolution of new protein functions therefore requires understanding how mutations alter the protein energy landscape. Ancestral sequence reconstruction (ASR) has proven a valuable tool for tackling this problem. In ASR, one phylogenetically infers the sequences of ancient proteins, allowing characterization of their properties. When coupled to biophysical, biochemical, and functional characterization, ASR can reveal how historical mutations altered the energy landscape of ancient proteins, allowing the evolution of enzyme activity, altered conformations, binding specificity, oligomerization, and many other protein features. In this article, we review how ASR studies have been used to dissect the evolution of energy landscapes. We also discuss ASR studies that reveal how energy landscapes have shaped protein evolution. Finally, we propose that thinking about evolution from the perspective of an energy landscape can improve how we approach and interpret ASR studies.</p>","PeriodicalId":50756,"journal":{"name":"Annual Review of Biophysics","volume":" ","pages":"127-146"},"PeriodicalIF":10.4,"publicationDate":"2024-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11192866/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"138886544","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}