360 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.
This study identifies AltSLC35A4, a conserved microprotein encoded by an alternative open reading frame, as a novel regulator of mitochondrial DNA homeostasis that interacts with actomyosin cytoskeletal components to maintain nucleoid spatial distribution and copy number independently of replication or bioenergetic states.
This study demonstrates that while multiple data analysis methods can correlate biochemical inhibition with antiviral activity for MERS-CoV main protease inhibitors, an enzyme kinetics model accounting for dimerization and biphasic concentration-response curves provides the most accurate prediction of cellular efficacy.
This study reveals that the Rpd3L histone deacetylase complex acts as a metabolic gatekeeper in *Saccharomyces cerevisiae* by dynamically removing H3K9 acetylation from active promoters upon nutrient shifts, thereby coordinating the shutdown of growth programs and ensuring transcriptional fidelity during metabolic transitions.
This study identifies 4,5,6,7-tetrabromo-1H-benzotriazole (TBB) as a specific small-molecule inhibitor of the NADPH phosphatase MESH1 that effectively suppresses ferroptosis in vitro and reduces neuronal death in an Alzheimer's disease model, validating MESH1 as a promising therapeutic target.
This study elucidates the structural basis of arsenite efflux by presenting high-resolution cryo-EM structures of the ArsB pump from *Leptospirillum ferriphilum*, revealing an inward-facing conformation where metalloid binding occurs via hydrogen bonding and is coupled to proton transport through conserved aspartate residues.
This study identifies and structurally characterizes a unique nucleic acid-binding module called PXL within the PML-1 protein, demonstrating its selective binding to G-rich single-stranded RNA and DNA motifs and its role in modulating the transcriptome to regulate gene expression and nuclear organization.
The paper introduces OptiPrime, a mechanistic machine learning model that achieves state-of-the-art, interpretable, and generalizable prediction of prime editing outcomes across various editing strategies and cell types, thereby enabling the design of efficient therapeutic edits such as the in vivo correction of a neurological disorder in mice.
This study utilizes long-read genome sequencing and AlphaFold3 structural modeling to overcome assembly challenges posed by repetitive sequences, successfully identifying and characterizing 35 distinct RTX adhesins across seven Gram-negative bacterial species to inform future strategies for blocking bacterial colonization and infection.
By developing the GATO-seq assay and utilizing cryo-EM, this study reveals that a specific nucleic acid sequence induces a unique, TFIIIS-resistant "super pause" in RNA polymerase II, which stabilizes a reversible, single-nucleotide backtracked "sidetracked" state through a threonine-lined pocket, thereby demonstrating how sequence directly encodes transcriptional pausing control.
This study introduces highly sensitive and rapid chemiluminescent probes that selectively target the ClbP enzyme, enabling the direct detection of colibactin-producing *E. coli* in complex stool samples for applications in cancer research and clinical screening.