Articles in 2015

The biosynthesis of iridoids, a class of bicyclic monoterpenes, features an atypical cyclization reaction catalyzed by iridoid synthase (ISY). Crystallographic and biochemical characterization of ISY from Catharanthus roseus provides insights into the ISY enzymatic mechanism and highlights similarities with the homologous progesterone 5β-reductase.

Characterization of the first class D β-lactamases in Gram-positive bacteria, including the Bacillaceae family, shows that one, BPU-1, is capable of hydrolyzing a wide variety of β-lactam antibiotics and has a unique substrate-binding mode.

Structure and functional characterization of BpHep, a heparanase from the invasive pathogenic bacterium Burkholderia pseudomallei, defines its glycosaminoglycan recognition mechanism and its catalytic mechanism as an endo-acting glycoside hydrolase.

A crystal structure of an RNA folding intermediate of the group II intron reveals a compact conformation that is stabilized by the sequential docking of downstream intron domains, providing new insights into RNA tertiary structure assembly.

Chemoproteomic studies have revealed that a Wnt-pathway inhibitor, CCT251545, is a potent and selective small-molecule chemical probe that inhibits the Mediator complex–associated protein kinases CDK8 and CDK19 through a type 1 binding mode and modulates the growth of Wnt-dependent tumors.

Meropenem/piperacillin/tazobactam is a triple β-lactam combination that kills MRSA in vitro and in a mouse model through a novel synergistic mechanism of action. Similar activity for other carbapenem/β-lactam combinations suggests that MRSA infections might be treatable with combinations of established β-lactams currently classified as ineffective against MRSA.

We asked a collection of chemical biologists: “What advice would you give to a junior scientist interested in pursuing a career in chemical biology?”

Multiple mitochondrial components generate reactive oxygen species (ROS), but separating the consequences of each ROS-generating source from overall mitochondrial health is challenging. A new class of small-molecule inhibitors that selectively block ROS generation from one of the most active sources may provide a new approach toward achieving that goal.

A 'chemical biology of cellular membranes' must capture the way that mesoscale perturbations tune the biochemical properties of constituent lipid and protein molecules and vice versa. Whereas the classical paradigm focuses on chemical composition, dynamic modulation of the physical shape or curvature of a membrane is emerging as a complementary and synergistic modus operandi for regulating cellular membrane biology.

Protein kinases have emerged as one of the most successful families of drug targets. To date, most selective kinase inhibitors have been discovered serendipitously either through broad selectivity screening or through the discovery of unique binding modes. Here we discuss design strategies that could lead to a broader coverage of the kinome with selective inhibitors and to a more rational approach for developing them.

Selecting compounds for the chemical library is the foundation of high-throughput screening (HTS). After some years and multiple HTS campaigns, many molecules in the Novartis and NIH Molecular Libraries Program screening collections have never been found to be active. An in-depth exploration of the bioactivity of this 'dark matter' does in fact reveal some compounds of interest.