⚗️ Category

biochemistry

316 papers

Biochemistry explores the intricate chemical processes that power life, bridging the gap between biology and chemistry to explain how molecules like proteins and DNA function within living cells. This field reveals the molecular machinery behind everything from metabolism to genetic inheritance, turning complex biological mysteries into understandable chemical interactions.

On Gist.Science, we bring you the freshest discoveries in this dynamic area directly from bioRxiv. Our team processes every new preprint uploaded to the server, transforming dense academic findings into both clear, plain-language overviews and detailed technical summaries. This dual approach ensures that whether you are a curious beginner or a seasoned researcher, you can grasp the significance of these breakthroughs immediately.

Below are the latest papers in biochemistry, complete with our curated summaries to help you navigate the cutting edge of molecular science.

⚗️ biochemistry

The deubiquitinating enzyme Otu1 releases substrates from the conserved initiation complex of the Cdc48/p97 ATPase for proteasomal degradation

This study reveals that the deubiquitinating enzyme Otu1 (Yod1) prevents substrates from being trapped in futile cycles on the Cdc48/p97 ATPase by trimming their ubiquitin chains prior to translocation, thereby facilitating their efficient transfer to the proteasome for degradation through a conserved mechanism involving simultaneous cofactor binding and ubiquitin unfolding.

Li, H., Guan, H., Rapoport, T.2026-02-28
⚗️ biochemistry

Is Protein Quantification and Physical Normalization Always Necessary in Proteomics?

This study demonstrates that protein quantification and physical normalization steps can be omitted from certain quantitative proteomics workflows without significantly increasing measurement variability, provided that robust computational normalization strategies are applied during data analysis.

Zelter, A., Riffle, M., Merrihew, G. E., Mutawe, B., Maurais, A., Yang, H.-Y., Inman, J. L., Celniker, S. E., Mao, J.-H. (…)2026-02-28
⚗️ biochemistry

Interactions between Submicron Carbon Particles, Escherichia coli and Humic acid with Plastic Surfaces

This study reveals that pristine thermoplastic surfaces exhibit intrinsically low affinity for submicron carbon particles, *Escherichia coli*, and humic acid under low ionic strength conditions, where particle-specific properties dominate retention over collector characteristics and classical XDLVO theory fails to predict the observed weak attachment.

Bossa, N., Talma, K., Dad, F. P., Gao, L., Urper-Bayram, G. M., Khan, W. U. D., Wiesner, M.2026-02-28
⚗️ biochemistry

The structure and catalytic mechanism of new cellular and viral HDV ribozymes

This study determines the crystal structures of two new Hepatitis delta virus (HDV) ribozymes from *C. briggsae* and Ackermannviridae, revealing a conserved double-pseudoknot architecture and a catalytic mechanism where cytosine 75 acts as a general acid and a divalent metal ion functions as a Lewis acid, distinguishing this ribozyme class from most other nucleolytic ribozymes that rely on general base catalysis.

Luo, Y., Chen, X., Lin, X., Liao, W., Xiao, B., Li, M., Qiu, Z., Wilson, T. J., Miao, Z., Wang, J., Huang, L., Lilley, D (…)2026-02-28
⚗️ biochemistry

Membrane Proteome Remodeling in Female APP Mice Following Muscarinic Acetylcholine Receptor M1 Modulation Revealed by Peptidisc Enabled DIA-MS.

Using a peptidisc-enabled DIA-MS workflow, this study reveals that Alzheimer's disease in female APP mice causes significant cortical membrane proteome remodeling, which is selectively targeted by M1 receptor modulation to restore neuronal trafficking and synaptic plasticity pathways without broadly altering the wild-type membrane proteome.

Bhattacharya, A., Antony, F., Aoki, H., Babu, M., Ferguson, S., Abd-Elrahman, K., Duong van Hoa, F.2026-02-27
⚗️ biochemistry

Discovery of inhibitors of the Pseudomonas aeruginosa NADH:ubiquinone oxidoreductase (NQR) that hinder virulence factors

This study identifies and characterizes novel inhibitors of the *Pseudomonas aeruginosa* NQR complex, demonstrating through high-resolution cryoEM structures and functional assays that blocking this proton-pumping enzyme disrupts electron transfer and significantly impairs bacterial virulence factors like motility and biofilm formation.

Ileperuma, S. M., Li, J., Ortiz, J., Shade, T., Vasseur, C., Ciancibello, N. A., Elhenawy, W., Di Trani, J.2026-02-27
⚗️ biochemistry

The pod components of the Shigella T3SS sorting platform accommodate multiple copies of Spa33 (SctQ)

This study utilizes AlphaFold modeling and mutational analysis to propose a revised architecture for the *Shigella* T3SS sorting platform pod, suggesting that two or potentially four copies of the SctQ protein (Spa33) bind to the adaptor MxiK and SPOA2 homodimers to better fit experimental electron density and explain functional requirements.

Whittier, S. K., Tachiyama, S., Heydari, S., Picking, W. L., Liu, J., Picking, W. D.2026-02-27
⚗️ biochemistry

Breaking Barriers: Transitioning from X-ray Crystallography to Cryo-EM for Structural Studies

This paper details a laboratory's successful transition from X-ray crystallography to cryo-electron microscopy for studying the ATAD2B protein, outlining practical strategies to overcome biochemical and technical challenges while providing a comprehensive workflow guide for structural biologists adopting this transformative technology.

Zafar, H., Malone, K. L., Singh, A. K., Cianfrocco, M. A., Glass, K. C.2026-02-25