2019
Cryo-EM structures of human oligosaccharyltransferase complexes OST-A and OST-B
Oligosaccharyltransferase (OST) is an integral membrane protein complex that catalyzes protein N-glycosylation in the endoplasmic reticulum. A recent “Science” paper by the Locher group describes the structure of human OST-A and OST-B complexes, providing the molecular basis of their distinct functions.
New National Centre of Competence in Research: Microbiomes
The Federal Council and the Swiss National Science Foundation SNSF announced six new NCCRs. "Microbiomes" will be headed by Jan Roelof van der Meer (University of Lausanne) and Julia Vorholt (ETH Zurich, Institute of Microbiology).
Mathematical modeling of protein secretion by monitoring intracellular N-glycan processing
In a joint effort, researchers of the groups of Markus Aebi (IMB), Massimo Morbidelli (D-CHAB) and Merck Healthcare have combined MS-based analytical methods and modeling approaches to describe the processing pathways of recombinant IgG in CHO cells. The paper in Science Advances provides a kinetic description of the secretory pathway in mammalian cells.
Sex-dependent and sex-independent controls of size variation in natural populations
Size of organs and organisms is regulated by many genes and pathways but little is known about how such many factors are coordinated at the systems level. A recent MSB paper from the Hafen group (IMSB) unveils two differential gene regulatory systems of size variation control.
A shuttle of one-carbon units anchored by polyglutamate
Conversion of one-carbon units generally relies on diffusible carrier molecules in methylotrophs. In a recent PNAS paper, the Vorholt group discovered that methylofuran is tightly bound to the enzyme “formyltransferase/hydrolase complex” and transfers formyl units between two active sites.