M. Buck

Cholesterol inhibits oncogenic EphA2 activation

This study shows that cholesterol inhibits EphA2 self-assembly and oncogenic signaling by preventing its activation through an in-trans mechanism involving protein kinase A.

The SAM Domain of EphA2 Inhibits Ligand-Independent Clustering and Activation

This study investigates the role of the SAM domain in EphA2, showing it inhibits ligand-independent clustering and kinase activity in both full-length and intracellular domain constructs.

Phosphorylation modulates estrogen receptor disorder by altering long-range hydrophobic interactions

This study shows phosphorylation at Ser118 of the estrogen receptor's disordered N-terminal domain alters long-range hydrophobic interactions, leading to conformational changes that activate transcriptional function.

Geographic population structure and distinct population dynamics of globally abundant freshwater bacteria

The paper examines geographic population structure and dynamics of freshwater bacteria using metagenomes and genomes, finding significant spatial differentiation and contrasting population dynamics across species.

Structural Basis of σ54 Displacement and Promoter Escape in Bacterial Transcription

This study presents cryo-EM structures of σ54 with increasing RNA length, revealing the mechanism of σ54 displacement and promoter escape during bacterial transcription initiation.

Allosteric inhibition of the epidermal growth factor receptor through disruption of transmembrane interactions

This study develops a pH-responsive peptide, PET1, that inhibits EGFR-mediated cell migration by disrupting transmembrane interactions, offering a new strategy for targeting RTKs with reduced side effects.

Linking prokaryotic genome size variation to metabolic potential and environment

The paper links prokaryotic genome size variation to metabolic potential and environmental factors in the Baltic Sea.

Development of novel cytoprotective small compounds inhibiting mitochondria-dependent apoptosis

The paper identifies and develops M109S, a small molecule that inhibits mitochondria-dependent apoptosis in various cell types and models.

A metagenomic view on fungal diversity in freshwater lakes

The paper analyzes metagenomic data from freshwater lakes to study fungal and Oomycota diversity and identifies environmental factors influencing their distribution.

Taxonomic and functional diversity of aquatic heterotrophs is sustained by dissolved organic matter chemodiversity

The paper investigates how dissolved organic matter (DOM) chemodiversity sustains taxonomic and functional diversity of aquatic heterotrophs across different model communities.

A consensus protocol for the recovery of mercury methylation genes from metagenomes

The paper presents a standardized protocol and bioinformatic pipeline for detecting and quantifying mercury methylation genes (hgcAB) in metagenomes, showing comparable efficiency between single and co-assembly approaches.

Abundance and expression of hgcAB genes and mercury availability jointly explain methylmercury formation in stratified brackish waters

The paper investigates how hgcA gene abundance and HgII-sulfide concentrations predict methylmercury formation in stratified brackish waters.

16S rRNA gene sequences of Candidatus Methylumidiphilus (Methylococcales), a putative methanotrophic genus in lakes and ponds

The paper identifies two new 16S rRNA gene sequences from the putative methanotrophic genus Candidatus Methylumidiphilus, which can improve its detection in environmental samples.

Transmembrane region dimer structures of Type 1 receptors readily sample alternate configurations: MD simulations using the Martini 3 coarse grained model compared to AlphaFold2 Multimer

This study compares Martini 3 coarse-grained MD simulations of TM receptor dimers with AlphaFold2 Multimer and NMR structures, finding that Martini 3 samples alternate configurations that interconvert.

Cell Surface Multimeric Assemblies Regulate Canonical and Noncanonical EphA2 Receptor Tyrosine Kinase Signaling

This study identifies molecular interfaces that mediate EphA2 receptor assembly and distinguishes between canonical and noncanonical signaling pathways.

Conformational clamping by a membrane ligand activates the EphA2 receptor

The paper identifies a peptide that activates EphA2 by binding to its transmembrane domain, revealing a mechanism where the peptide acts as a molecular clamp to stabilize the active conformation of the receptor.

Towards the NMR solution Structure and the Dynamics of the C-terminal Region of APOL1 and its G1, G2 Variants with a Membrane Mimetic

This study uses NMR to analyze the structure and dynamics of APOL1 C-terminal regions and their G1, G2 variants, revealing structural changes linked to chronic kidney disease.

Raf promotes dimerization of the Ras G-domain with increased allosteric connections

This study shows Raf-RBD induces Ras dimerization and identifies allosteric connections between Raf-RBD residues that contribute to signaling complex formation.

Comprehensive analysis of chemical and biological problems associated with browning agents used in aquatic studies

This study compares the chemical and biological impacts of three browning agents on aquatic systems, finding that leonardite products have distinct effects compared to terrestrial-derived DOM.

Resolving the Interactions Between Class 3 Semaphorin Receptors in Live Cells

This study uses PIE-FCCS to analyze receptor interactions in live cells, finding that Plexin D1 is monomeric while others form dimers or heteromers, with ligand-induced complex formation only observed for Plexin D1 and neuropilin-1.

A genomic perspective on genome size distribution across Earth's microbiomes reveals a tendency to gene loss

The paper analyzes genome size distribution across Earth's microbiomes and finds that environmental microorganisms have smaller genomes than lab-cultivated ones, with ecological and phylogenetic factors influencing genome size.

Molecular dynamics simulations and functional studies reveal that hBD-2 binds SARS-CoV-2 spike RBD and blocks viral entry into ACE2 expressing cells

The paper shows hBD-2 binds SARS-CoV-2 spike RBD and blocks viral entry into ACE2-expressing cells, with a KD of ~300 nM and IC50 of 2.4 μM.

Neuropilin-1 Assists SARS-CoV-2 Infection by Stimulating the Separation of Spike Protein Domains S1 and S2

This study shows that Neuropilin-1 facilitates SARS-CoV-2 infection by promoting the separation of Spike protein domains S1 and S2 through molecular dynamics simulations.

Comprehensive dataset of shotgun metagenomes from stratified freshwater lakes and ponds

The paper presents a comprehensive dataset of 267 shotgun metagenomes from 41 stratified freshwater lakes and ponds to study microbial communities and their role in carbon cycling.

Freshwater Chlorobia exhibit metabolic specialization among cosmopolitan and endemic populations

The paper analyzes global metagenomes to study metabolic specialization of freshwater Chlorobia, revealing widespread distribution and niche-specific adaptations.

Bacterial Vipp1 and PspA are members of the ancient ESCRT-III membrane-remodelling superfamily

The paper shows Vipp1 and PspA are evolutionarily related to ESCRT-III and use similar mechanisms for membrane remodeling in bacteria.

A Proteome-scale Analysis of Vertebrate Protein Amino Acid Occurrence: Thermoadaptation shows a Correlation with Protein Solvation but less so with Dynamics

The paper analyzes amino acid occurrence differences between vertebrates to show thermoadaptation correlates with protein solvation more than dynamics.

Energy efficiency and biological interactions define the core microbiome of deep oligotrophic groundwater

The paper identifies a core microbiome in deep oligotrophic groundwater, showing cooperative microbial communities adapted to low-energy environments through ecological traits and partnerships.

Plexin-Bs enhance their GAP activity with a novel activation switch loop

The paper identifies a novel activation switch loop in Plexin-B1 that enhances its GAP activity towards Rap1b through a cooperative mechanism involving conformational changes.

A multiplexed work-flow for absolute quantification of Klebsiella oxytoca Nif proteins

This study develops a high-throughput pipeline to quantify all twenty Nif proteins in Klebsiella oxytoca using MRM-MS and QconCAT standards, revealing temporal regulation and abundance disparities.