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The sky is the limit with regards to the societal impact nanomaterials can have on the lives. However, in this study, it is shown that their potential is out of this world. The planet Mars has an abundant source of calcium sulfate minerals and in this work, it is shown that these deposits can be the basis of transformative nanomaterials to potentially support future space endeavors. Vitally, the methods applied are low cost and require no specialized instruments of great expertise, strengthening the potential involvement of nanotechnology in sustaining Martian inhabitation. Through a scalable eco‐friendly liquid processing technique performed on two common terrestrial gypsum, this simple method presented a cost‐efficient procedure to yield suspensions of large aspect ratio anhydrite nanobelts with long‐term stability that are characterized through scanning electron microscopy and Raman spectroscopy. Transmission electron microscopy shows nanobelts to have a mesocrystal structure, with distinct nanoparticle constituents making up the lattice. Unexpectedly, anhydrite nanobelts have remarkable electronic properties, namely a bandgap that is easily tuned between semiconducting (≈2.2 eV) and insulating (≈4 eV) behaviors through dimensional control measured via atomic force microscopy. To demonstrate the application potential of the nanobelts; optoelectronic, electrochemical, and nanocomposite measurements are made. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Functional changes in chaperone systems play a major role in the decline of cognition and contribute to neurological pathologies, such as Alzheimer's disease (AD). While such a decline may occur naturally with age or with stress or trauma, the mechanisms involved have remained elusive. The current models suggest that amyloid-β (Aβ) plaque formation leads to the hyperphosphorylation of tau by a Hsp90-dependent process that triggers tau neurofibrillary tangle formation and neurotoxicity. Several co-chaperones of Hsp90 can influence the phosphorylation of tau, including FKBP51, FKBP52 and PP5. In particular, elevated levels of FKBP51 occur with age and stress and are further elevated in AD. Recently, the dihydropyridine LA1011 was shown to reduce tau pathology and amyloid plaque formation in transgenic AD mice, probably through its interaction with Hsp90, although the precise mode of action is currently unknown. Here, we present a co-crystal structure of LA1011 in complex with a fragment of Hsp90. We show that LA1011 can disrupt the binding of FKBP51, which might help to rebalance the Hsp90-FKBP51 chaperone machinery and provide a favourable prognosis towards AD. However, without direct evidence, we cannot completely rule out effects on other Hsp90-co-chaprone complexes and the mechanisms they are involved in, including effects on Hsp90 client proteins. Nonetheless, it is highly significant that LA1011 showed promise in our previous AD mouse models, as AD is generally a disease affecting older patients, where slowing of disease progression could result in AD no longer being life limiting. The clinical value of LA1011 and its possible derivatives thereof remains to be seen. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Author(s): James S. Parker [1]; S. Mark Roe [1]; David Barford (corresponding author) RNA interference and related RNA silencing phenomena use short antisense guide RNA molecules to repress the expression [...]

Research has been conducted on the of glycogen synthase kinase 3(beta) which is important for the insulin and Wnt signaling. The results of the crystal structure analysis of the human glycogen synthase kinase 3(beta) demonstrating the catalytically active conformation in the absence of the activation-segment phosphorylation are presented.

The structural adenosine triphosphate (ATP)/adenosine diphosphate-binding site in the Hsp90 heat shock protein was analyzed tp characterize the mechanisms of ATP binding and hydrolysis. Analysis of the yeast 90 kilodalton heat shock protein indicated the presence of an inherent adenosine triphosphatase activity in Hsp90. Furthermore, the yeast heat shock protein exhibited conformational changes in the presence of ATP.

The crystal structure studies of the C-terminal BRCT repeat region of Schizosaccharomyces pombe Crb2, alone and in complex with a phosphorylated H2A.1 peptide is reported. The results obtained provide insights into the biological roles of the BRCT domains as a checkpoint mediator required for the cellular response to DNA damage.

The structural consequences of receptor-like protein tyrosine phosphatase [alpha] (RPTP[alpha]) membrane distal domains (D2) oxidation are investigated. The results have shown that formation of the reversible cyclic sulfonamide is a general feature of the tyrosine specific PTPs and have demonstrated the susceptibility of the D2 catalytic Cys to oxidation, with potential implications for redox-depndent regulation of RPTP[alpha] conformational changes and catalytic activity.

Over thirty mutations, a majority of the people residing in the kinase domain, of the B-RAF gene associated with human cancers are identified. Studies show that of the 22 B-RAF mutants analyzed, eighteen have elevated kinase activity and signal to ERK in-vivo.

The protein kinases are the largest coherent class of proteins amongst Hsp90s. Hsp90-dependent protein kinases in mammalian cells is associated with a 50kDa protein. Activation and maintenance of Hsp90 -dependent client proteins proceeds through an ordered sequence of complexes.