Month: May 2012

Review: Validating Macromolecular Flexibility by SAXS

We bring to your attention a nice review published recently in the European Biophysics Journal describing the theoretical and practical considerations when using SAXS to characterize macromolecular flexibility. >The dynamics of macromolecular conformations are critical to the action of cellular networks. Solution X-ray scattering studies, in combination with macromolecular X-ray crystallography (MX) and nuclear magnetic…
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Mechanism of Activation/Deactivation of Retinoblastoma Protein

SAXS was used to characterize the structural effects of phosphorylation events that modulate the ability of retinoblastoma protein to associate with E2F and other proteins. This work has been published in Genes & Development in the May 8th Advanced Online Articles section. >Cyclin-dependent kinase (Cdk) phosphorylation of the Retinoblastoma protein (Rb) drives cell proliferation through…
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Structure of mammalian poly(ADP-ribose) glycohydrolase

Poly ADP-ribosylation regulates cellular processes such as genomic stability maintenance, transcription and cell death. The structure of rat poly(ADP-ribose) glycohydrolase has been determined using crystallographic data collected at the SIBYLS beamline, giving insights into the enzyme’s endoglycosidase activity and providing a basis for the development of therapeutic inhibitors. > Reversible post-translational modification by poly(ADP-ribose) (PAR)…
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