David J Williamson, Cecilia Zaza, Irene Carlon-Andres, Tobias Starling, Alessia Gentili, Joseph W Thrush, Audrey Le Bas, Ravi Teja Ravi, Stuart Neil, Ray J Owens, Maud Dumoux, Sabrina Simoncelli, Sergi Padilla-Parra
{"title":"Single-molecule localisation microscopy approaches reveal envelope glycoprotein clusters in single-enveloped viruses: a potential functional role?","authors":"David J Williamson, Cecilia Zaza, Irene Carlon-Andres, Tobias Starling, Alessia Gentili, Joseph W Thrush, Audrey Le Bas, Ravi Teja Ravi, Stuart Neil, Ray J Owens, Maud Dumoux, Sabrina Simoncelli, Sergi Padilla-Parra","doi":"10.1042/BST20240769","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1042/BST20240769","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Understanding how viruses enter and fuse with host cells is crucial for developing effective antiviral therapies. The process of viral entry and fusion involves a series of complex steps that allow the virus to breach the host cell membrane and deliver its genetic material inside, with viral fusogens often co-operating to attain the required energy for successful membrane fusion. This co-operative clustering of fusogens in viral envelopes is similar to receptor clustering in cellular systems, where receptors aggregate to initiate signalling cascades. Single-molecule localisation microscopy (SMLM) approaches have emerged as powerful tools to study these intricate mechanisms, allowing the observation of proteins with unprecedented levels of detail. These technologies provide unparalleled insights into the dynamics of viral entry and fusion at a molecular level, revealing how the co-ordinated action of fusogens facilitates membrane fusion. By employing the newest advances in SMLM techniques, such as DNA-PAINT and MINFLUX, we anticipate that precise information on the key steps of viral fusion can be revealed with high spatial and temporal resolutions, identifying critical points in the process that can be targeted by antiviral strategies.</p>","PeriodicalId":8841,"journal":{"name":"Biochemical Society transactions","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.8,"publicationDate":"2025-06-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144265187","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"CRAC channels and patho-physiology of peripheral organ systems.","authors":"Rajesh Bhardwaj, Anant B Parekh","doi":"10.1042/BST20253062","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1042/BST20253062","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>A rise in cytosolic Ca2+ is used as a key signalling messenger in eukaryotic cells. The Ca2+ signal drives life and death and controls myriad responses in between. Inherent in the use of such a multifarious signal is the danger of disease, arising from dysregulated Ca2+ signalling. One ancient, highly conserved and widespread Ca2+ entry pathway is the store-operated Ca2+ release-activated Ca2+ (CRAC) channel. Mutations in STIM1 and ORAI1, the genes that encode the functional channel, are tightly linked to a CRAC channelopathy in humans, which encompasses severe combined immune deficiency, myopathy and anhidrotic ectodermal dysplasia. Moreover, sustained Ca2+ entry through the channels leads to a range of systemic disorders, including acute pancreatitis, asthma and inflammatory bowel disease. In this review, we describe how aberrant CRAC channel activity causes a range of diseases, highlighting commonalities between these diverse pathologies.</p>","PeriodicalId":8841,"journal":{"name":"Biochemical Society transactions","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.8,"publicationDate":"2025-06-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144207538","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Saieeda Fabia Ali, Adrianna E White, Amy Medlock, Oleh Khalimonchuk
{"title":"Mechanisms of heme transport in the mitochondria.","authors":"Saieeda Fabia Ali, Adrianna E White, Amy Medlock, Oleh Khalimonchuk","doi":"10.1042/BST20253013","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1042/BST20253013","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Heme is a vital but highly reactive compound that is synthesized in mitochondria and subsequently distributed to a variety of subcellular compartments for utilization. The transport of heme is essential for normal cellular metabolism, growth, and development. Despite the vital importance of heme transport within the cell, data are lacking about how newly synthesized heme is shuttled within the mitochondrion or exported from the organelle. Here, we briefly summarize current knowledge about the process of mitochondrial heme distribution and discuss the current unresolved questions pertinent to this process.</p>","PeriodicalId":8841,"journal":{"name":"Biochemical Society transactions","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.8,"publicationDate":"2025-05-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144172496","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Ankanahalli N Nanjaraj Urs, Lucas Kim, Hani S Zaher
{"title":"Insights into the role of collided ribosomes during the activation of the integrated stress response.","authors":"Ankanahalli N Nanjaraj Urs, Lucas Kim, Hani S Zaher","doi":"10.1042/BST20253034","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1042/BST20253034","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Mechanisms that regulate and reprogram gene expression are particularly important under stress conditions. The integrated stress response (ISR) signaling pathway is one such pro-survival and adaptive mechanism conserved in eukaryotes. The ISR is characterized by the activation of protein kinases that phosphorylate the eukaryotic initiation factor 2α (eIF2α) in response to several stress conditions, including nutrient deprivation, viral infection, and protein misfolding. Phosphorylation of eIF2α results in global inhibition of translation, while promoting the translation of a few pro-survival genes. Here, we focus on the mechanism of activation of the eIF2α kinase general control nonderepressible 2 (Gcn2). The protein was initially discovered in yeast more than four decades ago, and it was proposed to respond to amino acid starvation through the accumulation of deacylated tRNAs. However, more recent studies have changed our understanding of its activation and suggest a direct role for ribosome stalling and collisions in the process. In this review, we discuss the classical model for the tRNA-mediated activation of GCN2 and the recent shift in this model to accommodate the observations that wide-ranging translational stresses trigger its activation.</p>","PeriodicalId":8841,"journal":{"name":"Biochemical Society transactions","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.8,"publicationDate":"2025-05-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144172493","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Exploring the interaction dynamics of eukaryotic translation initiation factor 2.","authors":"Assen Marintchev","doi":"10.1042/BST20253022","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1042/BST20253022","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Eukaryotic translation initiation typically involves recruitment of the 43S ribosomal pre-initiation complex (PIC) to the 5'-end of the mRNA to form the 48S PIC, followed by scanning in search of a start codon in a favorable nucleotide complex. The start codon is recognized through base-pairing with the anticodon of the initiator Met-tRNAi. The stringency of start codon selection controls the probability of initiation from a start codon in a suboptimal nucleotide context. Met-tRNAi itself is recruited to the 43S PIC by the eukaryotic translation initiation factor 2 (eIF2), in the form of the eIF2-GTP•Met-tRNAi ternary complex (TC). GTP hydrolysis by eIF2, promoted by its GTPase-activating protein eIF5, leads to the release of eIF2-GDP from the PIC. Recycling of eIF2-GDP to TC is promoted by the guanine nucleotide exchange factor eIF2B. Its inhibition by a number of stress factors triggers the integrated stress response (ISR). This review describes the recent advances in elucidating the interactions of eIF2 and its partners, with an emphasis on the timing and dynamics of their binding to, and release from the PIC. Special attention is given to the regulation of the stringency of start codon selection and the ISR. The discussion is mostly limited to translation initiation in mammals and budding yeast.</p>","PeriodicalId":8841,"journal":{"name":"Biochemical Society transactions","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.8,"publicationDate":"2025-05-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144135997","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Emerging tools and methods to study cell signalling mediated by branched ubiquitin chains.","authors":"Matthew R McFarland, Yogesh Kulathu","doi":"10.1042/BST20253015","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1042/BST20253015","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Branched ubiquitin chains are complex molecular structures in which two or more ubiquitin moieties are attached to distinct lysine residues of a single ubiquitin molecule within a polyubiquitin chain. These bifurcated architectures significantly expand the signalling capacity of the ubiquitin system. Although branched chains constitute a substantial fraction of cellular polyubiquitin, their biological functions largely remain enigmatic due to their complex nature and the associated technical challenges of studying them. Recent technological innovations have enabled the identification of key molecular players and revealed essential roles for branched chains in diverse cellular processes. In this review, we discuss the bespoke strategies that have driven these discoveries, as well as the technologies needed to advance this rapidly evolving field.</p>","PeriodicalId":8841,"journal":{"name":"Biochemical Society transactions","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.8,"publicationDate":"2025-05-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144085603","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Advances in ribosome profiling technologies.","authors":"Kotaro Tomuro, Shintaro Iwasaki","doi":"10.1042/BST20253061","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1042/BST20253061","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Ribosome profiling (or Ribo-seq) has emerged as a powerful approach for revealing the regulatory mechanisms of protein synthesis, on the basis of deep sequencing of ribosome footprints. Recent innovations in Ribo-seq technologies have significantly enhanced their sensitivity, specificity, and resolution. In this review, we outline emerging Ribo-seq derivatives that overcome barriers in low inputs, rRNA contamination, data calibration, and single-cell applications. These advances enable detailed insights into translational control across diverse biological contexts.</p>","PeriodicalId":8841,"journal":{"name":"Biochemical Society transactions","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.8,"publicationDate":"2025-05-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144085705","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Denise Ijeoma Obanya, Louisa M Wootton, Ethan L Morgan
{"title":"Advances in understanding the mechanisms of the human papillomavirus oncoproteins.","authors":"Denise Ijeoma Obanya, Louisa M Wootton, Ethan L Morgan","doi":"10.1042/BST20253041","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1042/BST20253041","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>High-risk human papillomaviruses (HPVs) are responsible for almost all cervical cancer cases and a growing number of oropharyngeal and anogenital cancers. The primary HPV oncoproteins, E6 and E7, act together to manipulate multiple cellular pathways that can ultimately result in malignant transformation. This includes the deregulation of several signalling pathways that regulate cell proliferation, cell cycle progression and cell survival. Although multiple functions of HPV E6 and E7 in driving oncogenesis are well known, recent studies have uncovered novel oncogenic functions of the HPV oncoproteins, including the manipulation of emerging mechanisms of cancer development, such as epigenetic modifications, cellular plasticity and genomic instability. This review explores current advances in understanding how the HPV oncoproteins interact with these cellular processes, highlighting potential therapeutic targets in HPV-associated cancers.</p>","PeriodicalId":8841,"journal":{"name":"Biochemical Society transactions","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.8,"publicationDate":"2025-05-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144085706","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Insights into the synchronization between DNA replication and parental histone recycling.","authors":"Xiaorong Tang, Yuan Yao, Gang Li, Haiyun Gan","doi":"10.1042/BST20253014","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1042/BST20253014","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Accurate parental histone recycling is of pivotal importance in epigenetic inheritance. Its proper functioning hinges on the precise co-ordination among a diverse array of proteins. During DNA replication, any aberration in the distribution of parental histones can potentially result in the loss of epigenetic memory. To date, although several key proteins involved in parental histone recycling have been identified, the detailed molecular mechanisms underlying their functions remain elusive. This mini-review focuses on summarizing the synchrony between DNA replication and parental histone recycling, along with the key participants in parental histone recycling. In the end, we provide an overview of the inherent connection between parental histone recycling and epigenetic inheritance, shedding light on the fundamental role of histone recycling in maintaining epigenetic information across cell divisions.</p>","PeriodicalId":8841,"journal":{"name":"Biochemical Society transactions","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.8,"publicationDate":"2025-05-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144085611","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Cdk activation by phosphorylation: linking growth signals to cell cycle control.","authors":"Heidi M Blank, Eun-Gyu No, Michael Polymenis","doi":"10.1042/BST20253004","DOIUrl":"10.1042/BST20253004","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Cells adjust their proliferation in response to extrinsic factors and nutrients. Such inputs must reach the cell cycle machinery to ensure proper cell proliferation. This minireview focuses on evidence suggesting that phosphorylating the T-loop domain of cyclin-dependent kinases may be a critical and conserved conduit for these external signals. Understanding this regulatory mechanism could provide crucial insights into how all eukaryotic cells integrate external information to decide whether or not to divide.</p>","PeriodicalId":8841,"journal":{"name":"Biochemical Society transactions","volume":"53 2","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.8,"publicationDate":"2025-05-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143963736","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}