R. Banerjee

Sulfide oxidation promotes hypoxic angiogenesis and neovascularization

This study shows that sulfide oxidation via SQOR promotes hypoxic angiogenesis and neovascularization by reprogramming metabolic pathways in endothelial cells.

β-Hydroxybutyrate promotes basal insulin secretion while decreasing glucagon secretion in mouse and human islets.

This study shows that β-hydroxybutyrate (βHB) increases insulin secretion and decreases glucagon secretion in human and mouse islets at physiological glucose concentrations.

BRD4-mediated epigenetic regulation of endoplasmic reticulum-mitochondria contact sites is governed by the mitochondrial complex III

The paper identifies fedratinib as a drug that increases endoplasmic reticulum-mitochondria contact sites by inhibiting BRD4, revealing a novel epigenetic pathway linking ERMCS to cellular metabolism.

Molecular basis of ligand promiscuity, structural mimicry, and atypical dimerization in the chemokine receptors

This study investigates ligand promiscuity and signaling bias in chemokine receptors by analyzing binding modes and determining cryo-EM structures of receptor-ligand complexes.

A genetically-encoded fluorescent biosensor for visualization of acetyl-CoA in live cells

This paper develops a genetically-encoded fluorescent biosensor to measure acetyl-CoA in live cells, showing its utility in E. coli and HeLa cells for detecting acetyl-CoA dynamics and compartmentalization.

H2S preconditioning induces long-lived perturbations in O2 metabolism

This study shows that H2S preconditioning causes long-lasting changes in O2 metabolism, including increased P50(O2) and metabolic memory effects lasting up to 24-48 hours.

Differential regulation by CD47 and thrombospondin-1 of extramedullary erythropoiesis in mouse spleen

This study shows that CD47 and thrombospondin-1 regulate extramedullary erythropoiesis in mouse spleen, with CD47 limiting it and thrombospondin-1 supporting a basal level.

Loss of Carnitine Palmitoyltransferase 1a Reduces Docosahexaenoic Acid-Containing Phospholipids and Drives Sexually Dimorphic Liver Disease in Mice

This study shows that liver-specific deletion of CPT1a in mice leads to reduced DHA-containing phospholipids and sexually dimorphic liver disease, with females showing more severe effects.

Cobalt-sulfur coordination chemistry drives B12 loading onto methionine synthase

This study identifies how MMADHC uses Co-S coordination lability to transfer cobalamin to methionine synthase, explaining homocystinuria caused by MMADHC variants.

Structure of the human Duffy antigen receptor

This study determines the cryo-EM structure of the Duffy antigen receptor bound to CCL7, revealing structural features that explain its unique functional properties and lack of G protein coupling.

Molecular insights into atypical modes of beta-arrestin interaction with seven transmembrane receptors

This study presents cryo-EM structures and experimental data revealing how beta-arrestins interact with GPCRs, particularly those with phosphorylation in the third intracellular loop and intrinsically biased receptors.

Structure-guided engineering of biased-agonism in the human niacin receptor via single amino acid substitution

This study presents cryo-EM structures of GPR109A-G-protein complexes with agonists and uses them to engineer biased agonists with reduced flushing effects.

Architecture of the human G-protein-methylmalonyl-CoA mutase nanoassembly for B12 delivery and repair

The paper reports the crystal structure of the human MMUT-MMAA nanomotor assembly, revealing its mechanism for B12 cofactor delivery and explaining disease-related mutations.

Enzymatic assay for UDP-GlcNAc and its application in the parallel assessment of substrate availability and protein O-GlcNAcylation

This paper introduces an enzymatic assay to measure UDP-GlcNAc and applies it to assess substrate availability and O-GlcNAcylation in mouse tissues and cells.

Structural insights into agonist-binding and activation of the human complement C3a receptor

This study presents structural insights into C3a-C3aR interactions and identifies a G-protein-biased agonist for the receptor.

Structural insights into ligand-recognition, activation, and signaling-bias at the complement C5a receptor, C5aR1

This study presents cryo-EM structures of C5aR1 bound to C5a and a synthetic peptide, revealing conformational changes and G-protein coupling mechanisms.

Mitochondrial complex III deficiency drives c-MYC overexpression and illicit cell cycle entry leading to senescence and segmental progeria

This study shows that mitochondrial complex III deficiency causes c-MYC overexpression, leading to senescence and progeria-like symptoms in mice.

Structural snapshots uncover a lock-and-key type conserved activation mechanism of β-arrestins by GPCRs

The paper presents structural snapshots of β-arrestins interacting with GPCRs, revealing a conserved 'lock-and-key' activation mechanism through specific phosphorylation patterns.

mtHsp70 converts mitochondrial proteostasis distress into impaired protein import

This study identifies mtHsp70's role in regulating mitochondrial protein import efficiency during stress by showing its redistribution and reduced availability.

Strain dropouts reveal interactions that govern the metabolic output of the gut microbiome

The paper investigates how strain dropouts in the gut microbiome affect community metabolism and host physiology, finding that functionally redundant strains can have significant impacts outside their niche.

Molecular insights into intrinsic transducer-coupling bias in the CXCR4-CXCR7 system

This study characterizes the biased agonism of CXCR4 and CXCR7, revealing differences in G-protein coupling, β-arrestin recruitment, and ERK1/2 activation.

Microenvironmental Ammonia Enhances T cell Exhaustion in Colorectal Cancer

This study shows that ammonia accumulation in the colorectal cancer microenvironment promotes T cell exhaustion and treatment resistance, and that reducing ammonia improves immunotherapy efficacy.

Membrane-Bound O-Acyltransferase 7 (MBOAT7)-Driven Lysophosphatidylinositol (LPI) Acylation in Adipocytes Contributes to Systemic Glucose Homeostasis

This study shows that MBOAT7 in adipocytes regulates PI homeostasis and contributes to hyperinsulinemia and systemic insulin resistance in mice.

Allosteric modulation of GPCR-induced β-arrestin trafficking and signaling by a synthetic intrabody

This paper shows that a synthetic intrabody enhances β-arrestin endosomal trafficking and ERK1/2 activation in a GPCR mutant by promoting an active-like conformation.

Gut Microbial Trimethylamine is Elevated in Alcohol-Associated Hepatitis and Contributes to Ethanol-Induced Liver Injury in Mice

This study shows elevated trimethylamine (TMA) in alcohol-associated hepatitis patients and demonstrates that inhibiting gut microbial TMA production protects mice from ethanol-induced liver injury.

A redox cycle with complex II promotes sulfide quinone oxidoreductase dependent H2S oxidation

The paper identifies a redox cycle involving complex II and SQOR that sustains H2S oxidation when complex IV is inhibited, improving H2S clearance in cells exposed to microbiota-derived H2S.

Cdk5 drives formation of heterogeneous pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors

This paper develops a mouse model of PanNETs driven by Cdk5 and shows its relevance to human tumors, supporting Cdk5 as a therapeutic target.

Significance of Oct-4 transcription factor as a pivotal therapeutic target for CD44+/24- mammary tumour initiating cells; aiming at the root of the recurrence

This study identifies Oct-4 as a survival factor in breast cancer stem cells (bCSCs) and shows its knockdown induces apoptosis, morphology changes, and reduced mammosphere formation.

Intrinsic bias at non-canonical, β-arrestin-coupled seven transmembrane receptors

The paper identifies two non-canonical GPCRs, D6R and C5aR2, that exclusively couple to β-arrestins and exhibit distinct GRK preferences and downstream signaling.

Protoporphyrin-IX nanostructures modulate their protein aggregation ability via differential oxidation and protein binding

This study shows that PP-IX nanostructures modulate protein aggregation through oxidation and binding, with albumin affecting their cytotoxic effects.