High-Throughput Discovery of Inhibitory Protein Fragments with AlphaFold

High-Precision Prediction of Protein Fragment Inhibitory Activity: The Application of FragFold Academic Background Protein interactions play a crucial role in cellular life activities, and peptides or protein fragments can regulate protein functions by binding to specific protein interfaces, even acting as inhibitors. Recent developments in high-th...

Impact of Omega-3 Fatty Acids on Hypertriglyceridemia, Lipidomics, and Gut Microbiome in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes

Impact of Omega-3 Fatty Acids on Lipidomics and Gut Microbiome in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Background Type 2 Diabetes (T2D) is a common metabolic disorder worldwide, often accompanied by lipid abnormalities such as hypertriglyceridemia (HTG). Lipid abnormalities are significant risk factors for cardiovascular disease (CVD), especially high tri...

Zinc for GNAO1 Encephalopathy: Preclinical Profiling and a Clinical Case

GNAO1 (G protein alpha subunit O1) gene mutations are considered one of the primary causes of severe pediatric encephalopathy. This encephalopathy typically manifests as epilepsy, movement disorders, developmental delay, and intellectual disability, with limited effectiveness of current treatments. The GαO protein encoded by the GNAO1 gene is a key...

G-quadruplexes Catalyze Protein Folding by Reshaping the Energetic Landscape

G-Quadruplexes Catalyze Protein Folding: A Research Report Academic Background Protein folding is a complex and unsolved problem in biology. Many proteins fold very slowly in vitro, far exceeding the time ranges acceptable under physiological conditions. To address this challenge, ATP (adenosine triphosphate)-dependent chaperonins are thought to ac...

Biochemical and Structural Bases for Talin ABSS–F-Actin Interactions

Academic Background In cell biology, focal adhesions (FAs) are key connection points between cells and the extracellular matrix (ECM), linking integrin receptors to the intracellular actin cytoskeleton. They play a crucial role in cell migration and polarization. Talin is a core protein in focal adhesions that directly connects integrin receptors t...

Cataract-Prone Variants of γD-Crystallin Populate a Conformation with a Partially Unfolded N-Terminal Domain under Native Conditions

Study on Partially Unfolded Intermediate of γD-Crystallin Variants under Native Conditions Academic Background Human γD-crystallin is a structural protein in the eye lens, crucial for maintaining its transparency and stability. It must remain folded throughout an individual’s lifetime to avoid aggregation and protein deposition, thus preventing cat...

Mechanistic Insights into Inactivating Mutations in the Proton-Coupled Folate Transporter (SLC46A1), and Compensatory Mutations that Restore Function

Research Background and Problem Statement Hereditary Folate Malabsorption (HFM) is a rare autosomal recessive disorder characterized by impaired intestinal absorption of folates and hindered transport across the choroid plexus into cerebrospinal fluid. This disease is caused by inactivating mutations in the gene encoding the Proton-Coupled Folate T...

A Statistical Framework for Multi-Trait Rare Variant Analysis in Large-Scale Whole-Genome Sequencing Studies

A New Framework for Multi-Trait Rare Variant Analysis: Multistaar Research Background and Problem Statement With the advancement of next-generation sequencing technologies and the decreasing cost of whole-genome sequencing (WGS), researchers can delve deeper into the impact of rare variants on complex human traits. However, single-trait analysis me...

Development and Validation of a Time-Varying Correction Factor for QT Interval Assessment in Drug-Resistant Tuberculosis Patients

Development and Validation of a Time-Varying Correction Factor for QT Interval Assessment in Drug-Resistant Tuberculosis Patients Academic Background and Research Motivation During the treatment of active tuberculosis (Tuberculosis, TB), patients often experience tachycardia (Tachycardia), which typically diminishes as they recover. Elevated heart ...

Recommendations for Implementing the HEvolution Alliance for Aging Biomarkers Initiative

Promoting Healthy Longevity: Implementation Recommendations for the Hevolution Alliance for Aging Biomarkers Initiative Academic Background and Research Motivation With the intensification of global population aging, human life expectancy has significantly increased, but the growth in healthy life expectancy (i.e., years lived in good health) has b...