Molecular Biology and Physiology
Commentary | Molecular Biology and PhysiologymSphere of Influence: Resolution of the Structure of an Influenza Virus Polymerase Is a Game ChangerMathilde Richard works in the field of virology, more specifically on the evolution and pathogenesis of influenza viruses. In this mSphere of Influence article, she reflects on how the two articles “Structure of Influenza A Polymerase Bound to the Viral RNA Promoter” by A. Pflug, D. Guilligay, S. Reich, and S. Cusack (Nature 516:355–360, 2014, https://doi.org/10.1038/nature14008) and “...
Research Article | Molecular Biology and PhysiologyTrypanosoma brucei L11 Is Essential to Ribosome Biogenesis and Interacts with the Kinetoplastid-Specific Proteins P34 and P37The human-pathogenic, eukaryotic parasite Trypanosoma brucei causes human and animal African trypanosomiases. Treatments for T. brucei suffer from numerous hurdles, including adverse side effects and developing resistance. Ribosome biogenesis is one critical process for...
Research Article | Molecular Biology and PhysiologyGenetic Determinants of Virulence between Two Foot-and-Mouth Disease Virus Isolates Which Caused Outbreaks of Differing SeverityEfforts to understand the universal mechanism of foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) infection may be aided by knowledge of the molecular mechanisms which underlie differences in virulence beyond multiple topotypes and serotypes of FMDV. Here, we demonstrated independent genetic determinants of two FMDV isolates which have different transmissibility in cattle, namely, VP1 and 3D protein. Findings suggested that the selectivity of VP1...
Research Article | Molecular Biology and PhysiologyUnique Interactions of the Nuclear Export Receptors TbMex67 and TbMtr2 with Components of the 5S Ribonuclear Particle in Trypanosoma bruceiTrypanosoma brucei is the causative agent for both African sleeping sickness in humans and nagana in cattle. Ribosome biogenesis in these pathogens requires both conserved and trypanosome-specific proteins to coordinate in a complex pathway. We have previously shown that the trypanosome-specific proteins P34/P37 are essential to the interaction of the TbNmd3-TbXpoI...
Research Article | Molecular Biology and PhysiologySAMHD1 Regulates Human Papillomavirus 16-Induced Cell Proliferation and Viral Replication during Differentiation of KeratinocytesHPVs are causative agents in human cancers and are responsible for around of 5% of all cancers. A better understanding of the viral life cycle in keratinocytes will facilitate the development of novel therapeutics to combat HPV-positive cancers. Here, we present a unique keratinocyte model to identify host proteins that specifically interact with HPV16. Using this system, we report that a cellular gene, SAMHD1, is regulated by HPV16 at...
Research Article | Molecular Biology and PhysiologyThe Aspergillus fumigatus Mismatch Repair MSH2 Homolog Is Important for Virulence and Azole ResistanceInvasive aspergillosis (IA) has emerged as one of the most common life-threatening fungal diseases in immunocompromised patients, with mortality rates as high as 90%. Systemic fungal infections such as IA are usually treated with triazoles; however, epidemiological research has shown that the prevalence of azole-resistant Aspergillus fumigatus isolates has increased...
Research Article | Molecular Biology and PhysiologyActivation of the Extracytoplasmic Function σ Factor σP by β-Lactams in Bacillus thuringiensis Requires the Site-2 Protease RasPThe discovery of antibiotics to treat bacterial infections has had a dramatic and positive impact on human health. However, shortly after the introduction of a new antibiotic, bacteria often develop resistance. The bacterial cell envelope is essential for cell viability and is the target of many of the most commonly used antibiotics, including β-lactam antibiotics. Resistance to β-lactams is often dependent upon β-lactamases. In...
Research Article | Molecular Biology and PhysiologyContribution of Cytidine Deaminase to Thymidylate Biosynthesis in Trypanosoma brucei: Intracellular Localization and Properties of the EnzymeCytidine deaminases (CDAs) catalyze the hydrolytic deamination of cytidine and deoxycytidine in the pyrimidine salvage pathway. In kinetoplastids, pyrimidine metabolism has been extensively studied as a source of potential drug targets, given the fact that many of the enzymes of the pathway are essential. Thymidylate (dTMP) synthesis in Trypanosoma brucei exhibits...
Research Article | Molecular Biology and PhysiologyTrypanosoma brucei Homologue of Regulator of Ribosome Synthesis 1 (Rrs1) Has Direct Interactions with Essential Trypanosome-Specific ProteinsTrypanosoma brucei is a parasite responsible for human and animal African trypanosomiasis. Current treatments for these diseases have numerous problems, and the development of novel chemotherapeutics can be achieved by identifying targets that are parasite specific and part of essential processes. Ribosome biogenesis is the process of generating translation-competent...
Research Article | Molecular Biology and PhysiologyThe Cross Talk between TbTim50 and PIP39, Two Aspartate-Based Protein Phosphatases, Maintains Cellular Homeostasis in Trypanosoma bruceiTrypanosoma brucei, the infectious agent of African trypanosomiasis, must adapt to strikingly different host environments during its digenetic life cycle. Developmental regulation of mitochondrial activities is an essential part of these processes. We have shown previously that mitochondrial inner membrane protein translocase 50 in...