Crystal structure of tripartite-type ABC transporter MacB from Acinetobacter baumannii.

The MacA-MacB-TolC tripartite complex is a transmembrane machine that spans both plasma membrane and outer membrane and actively extrudes substrates, including macrolide antibiotics, virulence factors, peptides and cell envelope precursors. These transport activities are driven by the ATPase MacB, a member of the ATP-binding cassette (ABC) superfamily. Here, we present the crystal structure of MacB at 3.4-Å resolution. MacB forms a dimer in which each protomer contains a nucleotide-binding domain and four transmembrane helices that protrude in the periplasm into a binding domain for interaction with the membrane fusion protein MacA. MacB represents an ABC transporter in pathogenic microorganisms with unique structural features

High-Sensitivity Rheo-NMR Spectroscopy for Protein Studies

Shear stress can induce structural deformation of proteins, which might result in aggregate formation. Rheo-NMR spectroscopy has the potential to monitor structural changes in proteins under shear stress at the atomic level; however, existing Rheo-NMR methodologies have insufficient sensitivity to probe protein structure and dynamics. Here we present a simple and versatile approach to Rheo-NMR, which maximizes sensitivity by using a spectrometer equipped with a cryogenic probe. As a result, the sensitivity of the instrument ranks highest among the Rheo-NMR spectrometers reported so far. We demonstrate that the newly developed Rheo-NMR instrument can acquire high-quality relaxation data for a protein under shear stress and can trace structural changes in a protein during fibril formation in real time. The described approach will facilitate rheological studies on protein structural deformation, thereby aiding a physical understanding of shear-induced amyloid fibril formation

Effect of Fluorine Substitution in Li3YCl6 Chloride Solid Electrolytes for All-solid-state Battery

All-solid-state batteries experience irreversible capacity loss particularly in the initial potential cycle, owing to electrolyte decomposition at the electrode/electrolyte interface. A strategy for expanding the oxidation stability of electrolytes is replacing the anion with fluorine. However, fluorine substitution has a negative influence on ionic conductivity. In this study, we introduced trace amounts of fluorine into Li3YCl6 solid electrolytes which exhibit high ionic conductivities and wide potential windows. The effect of replacement on ionic conductivity, oxidation stability, and charge–discharge characteristics were studied. The trace amounts of fluorine in Li3YCl6 did not reduce the conductivity, but improved the apparent oxidation stability. The decomposed product of LiF from the fluorine-substituted electrolyte disturbed the formation of a high-resistance layer at the electrode/electrolyte interface. The initial charge–discharge efficiency of the uncoated LiCoO2 cathode was improved by the trace amount of fluorine replacement in the Li3YCl6 solid electrolyte

Modeling the early phenotype at the neuromuscular junction of spinal muscular atrophy using patient-derived iPSCs.

Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is a neuromuscular disorder caused by mutations of the survival of motor neuron 1 (SMN1) gene. In the pathogenesis of SMA, pathological changes of the neuromuscular junction (NMJ) precede the motor neuronal loss. Therefore, it is critical to evaluate the NMJ formed by SMA patients' motor neurons (MNs), and to identify drugs that can restore the normal condition. We generated NMJ-like structures using MNs derived from SMA patient-specific induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), and found that the clustering of the acetylcholine receptor (AChR) is significantly impaired. Valproic acid and antisense oligonucleotide treatment ameliorated the AChR clustering defects, leading to an increase in the level of full-length SMN transcripts. Thus, the current in vitro model of AChR clustering using SMA patient-derived iPSCs is useful to dissect the pathophysiological mechanisms underlying the development of SMA, and to evaluate the efficacy of new therapeutic approaches

High-Sensitivity Rheo-NMR Spectroscopy for Protein Studies

Shear stress can induce structural deformation of proteins, which might result in aggregate formation. Rheo-NMR spectroscopy has the potential to monitor structural changes in proteins under shear stress at the atomic level; however, existing Rheo-NMR methodologies have insufficient sensitivity to probe protein structure and dynamics. Here we present a simple and versatile approach to Rheo-NMR, which maximizes sensitivity by using a spectrometer equipped with a cryogenic probe. As a result, the sensitivity of the instrument ranks highest among the Rheo-NMR spectrometers reported so far. We demonstrate that the newly developed Rheo-NMR instrument can acquire high-quality relaxation data for a protein under shear stress and can trace structural changes in a protein during fibril formation in real time. The described approach will facilitate rheological studies on protein structural deformation, thereby aiding a physical understanding of shear-induced amyloid fibril formation

WT1 Trio Peptide-Based Cancer Vaccine for Rare Cancers Expressing Shared Target WT1

No standard treatment has been established for most rare cancers. Here, we report a clinical trial of a biweekly WT1 tri-peptide-based vaccine for recurrent or advanced rare cancers. Due to the insufficient number of patients available for a traditional clinical trial, the trial was designed for rare cancers expressing shared target molecule WT1. The recruitment criteria included WT1-expressing tumors as well as HLA-A*24:02 or 02:01. The primary endpoints were immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibody (Ab) production against the WT1-235 cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) epitope and delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH) skin reactions to targeted WT1 CTL epitopes. The secondary endpoints were safety and clinical efficacy. Forty-five patients received WT1 Trio, and 25 (55.6%) completed the 3-month protocol treatment. WT1-235 IgG Ab was positive in 88.0% of patients treated with WT1 Trio at 3 months, significantly higher than 62.5% of the weekly WT1-235 CTL peptide vaccine. The DTH positivity rate in WT1 Trio was 62.9%, which was not significantly different from 60.7% in the WT1-235 CTL peptide vaccine. The WT1 Trio safety was confirmed without severe treatment-related adverse events, except grade 3 myasthenia gravis-like symptoms observed in a patient with thymic cancer. Fifteen (33.3%) patients achieved stable disease after 3 months of treatment. In conclusion, the biweekly WT1 Trio vaccine containing the WT1-332 helper T lymphocyte peptide induced more robust immune responses targeting WT1 than the weekly WT1-235 CTL peptide vaccine. Therefore, WT1-targeted immunotherapy may be a potential therapeutic strategy for rare cancers