UNLABELLED: Tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV) is a neurotropic flavivirus that causes thousands of human infections annually. Viral tropism in the brain is determined by the presence of necessary receptors, entry factors, and the ability of the virus to overcome host defenses. The viral structural proteins, pre-membrane (prM), and envelope (E) play an important role in receptor binding, membrane fusion, particle maturation, and antibody neutralization. To understand how these proteins influence virus distribution and tropism in the brain, we generated a chimeric virus harboring the prM and ectodomain of E from TBEV in the background of the low-pathogenic Langat virus (LGTV). We solved the atomic structures of both the chimeric virus and LGTV to compare them to the known TBEV structure. We show that this chimeric virus remains low-pathogenic, while being structurally and antigenically similar to TBEV. Using 3D optical whole brain imaging combined with immunohistochemistry, we found that both LGTV and the chimeric virus primarily infect the cerebral cortex, with no significant differences in their localization or tropism. In contrast, TBEV shows high infection of the cerebellum and a strong preference toward Purkinje cells, indicating that factors other than the prM and E proteins are important for determining TBEV tropism in the brain. Together, this provides new insights into the roles of the structural and non-structural proteins of tick-borne flaviviruses. IMPORTANCE: Although an effective vaccine exists, there is no treatment for those infected by the tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV). This study aimed to better understand how the virus's surface proteins influence viral tropism and pathogenicity. We created a chimeric virus with prM and E proteins of TBEV in the genetic background of the low-pathogenic Langat virus (LGTV). The chimeric virus remained low pathogenic, similar to LGTV. Both viruses infected similar brain regions, while TBEV showed a strong preference for the cerebellum and Purkinje cells. This means that other parts of the virus, such as non-structural proteins or NCR, likely decide how the virus behaves in the brain. This study also presents the first cryogenic electron microscopy structure of LGTV, the first whole-brain imaging of TBEV infection in mouse brain, and a new model system to study surface proteins in tick-borne flaviviruses-laying groundwork for future studies on viral tropism, antibody cross-reactivity, and virus-receptor interaction.

• Klíčová slova
• Langat virus, chimera virus, cryo-EM structure, tick-borne encephalitis, viral pathogenesis, whole brain imaging,
• MeSH
• internalizace viru MeSH
• klíšťová encefalitida * virologie   patologie   MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• mozek virologie   MeSH
• myši MeSH
• proteiny virového obalu * metabolismus   genetika   chemie   MeSH
• tropismus virů * MeSH
• viry klíšťové encefalitidy * patogenita   fyziologie   genetika   MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• myši MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• Názvy látek
• proteiny virového obalu * MeSH

The 20S proteasome, a critical component of the ubiquitin-proteasome system, plays a central role in regulating protein degradation in eukaryotic cells. Marizomib (MZB), also known as salinosporamide A, is a natural γ-lactam-β-lactone compound derived from Salinispora tropica and is a potent 20S proteasome covalent inhibitor with demonstrated anticancer properties. Its broad-spectrum inhibition of all three proteasome subunits and its ability to cross the blood-brain barrier has made it a promising therapeutic candidate for glioblastoma. In addition to this, MZB also demonstrates significant inhibition against the 20S proteasome of Trichomonas vaginalis (Tv20S), a protozoan parasite, suggesting its potential for parasitic treatments. Here, we present the cryo-EM structure of the human 20S proteasome in complex with MZB at 2.55 Å resolution. This structure reveals the binding mode of MZB to all six catalytic subunits within the two β-rings of the 20S proteasome, providing a detailed molecular understanding of its irreversible inhibitory mechanism. These findings enhance the therapeutic potential of MZB for both cancer and parasitic diseases at the molecular level and highlight marine-derived natural products in targeting the proteasome for therapeutic applications.

• Klíčová slova
• 20S, MZB, cryo-EM, marizomib, proteasome,
• MeSH
• elektronová kryomikroskopie MeSH
• inhibitory proteasomu * chemie   farmakologie   MeSH
• laktony * chemie   farmakologie   MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• molekulární modely MeSH
• proteasomový endopeptidasový komplex * chemie   metabolismus   MeSH
• pyrroly * chemie   farmakologie   MeSH
• vazba proteinů MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• Názvy látek
• inhibitory proteasomu * MeSH
• laktony * MeSH
• marizomib MeSH Prohlížeč
• proteasomový endopeptidasový komplex * MeSH
• pyrroly * MeSH

The 20S proteasome, a critical component of the ubiquitin-proteasome system, plays a central role in regulating protein degradation in eukaryotic cells. Marizomib (MZB), a natural γ-lactam-β-lactone compound derived from Salinispora tropica, is a potent 20S proteasome covalent inhibitor with demonstrated anticancer properties. Its broad-spectrum inhibition of all three proteasome subunits and ability to cross the blood-brain barrier has made it a promising therapeutic candidate for glioblastoma. Here, we present the cryo-EM structure of the human 20S proteasome in complex with MZB at 2.55 Å resolution. This structure reveals the binding mode of MZB to all six catalytic subunits within the two β-rings of the 20S proteasome, providing a detailed molecular understanding of its irreversible inhibitory mechanism. These findings explain the therapeutic potential of MZB at the molecular level and highlight marine-derived natural products in targeting the proteasome for anticancer treatment.

• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• preprinty MeSH

Mycobacterial HelD is a transcription factor that recycles stalled RNAP by dissociating it from nucleic acids and, if present, from the antibiotic rifampicin. The rescued RNAP, however, must disengage from HelD to participate in subsequent rounds of transcription. The mechanism of release is unknown. We show that HelD from Mycobacterium smegmatis forms a complex with RNAP associated with the primary sigma factor σA and transcription factor RbpA but not CarD. We solve several structures of RNAP-σA-RbpA-HelD without and with promoter DNA. These snapshots capture HelD during transcription initiation, describing mechanistic aspects of HelD release from RNAP and its protective effect against rifampicin. Biochemical evidence supports these findings, defines the role of ATP binding and hydrolysis by HelD in the process, and confirms the rifampicin-protective effect of HelD. Collectively, these results show that when HelD is present during transcription initiation, the process is protected from rifampicin until the last possible moment.

• MeSH
• adenosintrifosfát metabolismus   MeSH
• bakteriální proteiny * metabolismus   genetika   MeSH
• DNA řízené RNA-polymerasy * metabolismus   MeSH
• genetická transkripce MeSH
• iniciace genetické transkripce * MeSH
• Mycobacterium smegmatis * metabolismus   genetika   MeSH
• promotorové oblasti (genetika) * MeSH
• regulace genové exprese u bakterií MeSH
• rifampin * farmakologie   MeSH
• sigma faktor * metabolismus   genetika   MeSH
• transkripční faktory metabolismus   MeSH
• vazba proteinů MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH
• Názvy látek
• adenosintrifosfát MeSH
• bakteriální proteiny * MeSH
• DNA řízené RNA-polymerasy * MeSH
• rifampin * MeSH
• sigma faktor * MeSH
• transkripční faktory MeSH

The proteasome is a proteolytic enzyme complex essential for protein homeostasis in mammalian cells and protozoan parasites like Trichomonas vaginalis (Tv), the cause of the most common, non-viral sexually transmitted disease. Tv and other protozoan 20S proteasomes have been validated as druggable targets for antimicrobials. However, low yields and purity of the native proteasome have hindered studies of the Tv 20S proteasome (Tv20S). We address this challenge by creating a recombinant protozoan proteasome by expressing all seven α and seven β subunits of Tv20S alongside the Ump-1 chaperone in insect cells. The recombinant Tv20S displays biochemical equivalence to its native counterpart, confirmed by various assays. Notably, the marizomib (MZB) inhibits all catalytic subunits of Tv20S, while the peptide inhibitor carmaphycin-17 (CP-17) specifically targets β2 and β5. Cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) unveils the structures of Tv20S bound to MZB and CP-17 at 2.8 Å. These findings explain MZB's low specificity for Tv20S compared to the human proteasome and demonstrate CP-17's higher specificity. Overall, these data provide a structure-based strategy for the development of specific Tv20S inhibitors to treat trichomoniasis.

• MeSH
• elektronová kryomikroskopie * MeSH
• inhibitory proteasomu * farmakologie   chemie   MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• molekulární modely MeSH
• proteasomový endopeptidasový komplex * metabolismus   MeSH
• protozoální proteiny metabolismus   antagonisté a inhibitory   genetika   chemie   MeSH
• rekombinantní proteiny * metabolismus   genetika   MeSH
• Trichomonas vaginalis * účinky léků   genetika   enzymologie   metabolismus   MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH
• Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural MeSH
• Názvy látek
• inhibitory proteasomu * MeSH
• proteasomový endopeptidasový komplex * MeSH
• protozoální proteiny MeSH
• rekombinantní proteiny * MeSH

Phosphofructokinase-1 (PFK1) catalyzes the rate-limiting step of glycolysis, committing glucose to conversion into cellular energy. PFK1 is highly regulated to respond to the changing energy needs of the cell. In bacteria, the structural basis of PFK1 regulation is a textbook example of allostery; molecular signals of low and high cellular energy promote transition between an active R-state and inactive T-state conformation, respectively. Little is known, however, about the structural basis for regulation of eukaryotic PFK1. Here, we determine structures of the human liver isoform of PFK1 (PFKL) in the R- and T-state by cryoEM, providing insight into eukaryotic PFK1 allosteric regulatory mechanisms. The T-state structure reveals conformational differences between the bacterial and eukaryotic enzyme, the mechanisms of allosteric inhibition by ATP binding at multiple sites, and an autoinhibitory role of the C-terminus in stabilizing the T-state. We also determine structures of PFKL filaments that define the mechanism of higher-order assembly and demonstrate that these structures are necessary for higher-order assembly of PFKL in cells.

• MeSH
• adenosintrifosfát * metabolismus   MeSH
• alosterická regulace MeSH
• elektronová kryomikroskopie MeSH
• fosfofruktokinasa-1 * metabolismus   chemie   genetika   MeSH
• glykolýza MeSH
• játra enzymologie   metabolismus   MeSH
• konformace proteinů MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• molekulární modely MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• Názvy látek
• adenosintrifosfát * MeSH
• fosfofruktokinasa-1 * MeSH
• PFKL protein, human MeSH Prohlížeč
• Pfkl protein, mouse MeSH Prohlížeč

Allosteric regulation of inosine 5'-monophosphate dehydrogenase (IMPDH), an essential enzyme of purine metabolism, contributes to the homeostasis of adenine and guanine nucleotides. However, the precise molecular mechanism of IMPDH regulation in bacteria remains unclear. Using biochemical and cryo-EM approaches, we reveal the intricate molecular mechanism of the IMPDH allosteric regulation in mycobacteria. The enzyme is inhibited by both GTP and (p)ppGpp, which bind to the regulatory CBS domains and, via interactions with basic residues in hinge regions, lock the catalytic core domains in a compressed conformation. This results in occlusion of inosine monophosphate (IMP) substrate binding to the active site and, ultimately, inhibition of the enzyme. The GTP and (p)ppGpp allosteric effectors bind to their dedicated sites but stabilize the compressed octamer by a common mechanism. Inhibition is relieved by the competitive displacement of GTP or (p)ppGpp by ATP allowing IMP-induced enzyme expansion. The structural knowledge and mechanistic understanding presented here open up new possibilities for the development of allosteric inhibitors with antibacterial potential.

• MeSH
• adenosintrifosfát metabolismus   MeSH
• alosterická regulace MeSH
• bakteriální proteiny metabolismus   chemie   genetika   MeSH
• elektronová kryomikroskopie MeSH
• guanosinpentafosfát metabolismus   MeSH
• guanosintrifosfát * metabolismus   MeSH
• IMP-dehydrogenasa * metabolismus   chemie   antagonisté a inhibitory   MeSH
• inosinmonofosfát metabolismus   chemie   MeSH
• katalytická doména MeSH
• molekulární modely MeSH
• Mycobacterium smegmatis enzymologie   metabolismus   MeSH
• vazba proteinů MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• Názvy látek
• adenosintrifosfát MeSH
• bakteriální proteiny MeSH
• guanosinpentafosfát MeSH
• guanosintrifosfát * MeSH
• IMP-dehydrogenasa * MeSH
• inosinmonofosfát MeSH

We present structures of three immature tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV) isolates. Our atomic models of the major viral components, the E and prM proteins, indicate that the pr domains of prM have a critical role in holding the heterohexameric prM3E3 spikes in a metastable conformation. Destabilization of the prM furin-sensitive loop at acidic pH facilitates its processing. The prM topology and domain assignment in TBEV is similar to the mosquito-borne Binjari virus, but is in contrast to other immature flavivirus models. These results support that prM cleavage, the collapse of E protein ectodomains onto the virion surface, the large movement of the membrane domains of both E and M, and the release of the pr fragment from the particle render the virus mature and infectious. Our work favors the collapse model of flavivirus maturation warranting further studies of immature flaviviruses to determine the sequence of events and mechanistic details driving flavivirus maturation.

• MeSH
• Flavivirus fyziologie   MeSH
• klíšťová encefalitida virologie   MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• molekulární modely MeSH
• proteiny virového obalu * chemie   metabolismus   MeSH
• virion MeSH
• viry klíšťové encefalitidy * fyziologie   MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH
• Názvy látek
• proteiny virového obalu * MeSH

The EMDataResource Ligand Model Challenge aimed to assess the reliability and reproducibility of modeling ligands bound to protein and protein-nucleic acid complexes in cryogenic electron microscopy (cryo-EM) maps determined at near-atomic (1.9-2.5 Å) resolution. Three published maps were selected as targets: Escherichia coli beta-galactosidase with inhibitor, SARS-CoV-2 virus RNA-dependent RNA polymerase with covalently bound nucleotide analog and SARS-CoV-2 virus ion channel ORF3a with bound lipid. Sixty-one models were submitted from 17 independent research groups, each with supporting workflow details. The quality of submitted ligand models and surrounding atoms were analyzed by visual inspection and quantification of local map quality, model-to-map fit, geometry, energetics and contact scores. A composite rather than a single score was needed to assess macromolecule+ligand model quality. These observations lead us to recommend best practices for assessing cryo-EM structures of liganded macromolecules reported at near-atomic resolution.

• MeSH
• beta-galaktosidasa chemie   metabolismus   MeSH
• COVID-19 virologie   MeSH
• elektronová kryomikroskopie * metody   MeSH
• Escherichia coli MeSH
• konformace proteinů MeSH
• ligandy MeSH
• molekulární modely * MeSH
• reprodukovatelnost výsledků MeSH
• SARS-CoV-2 MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• Názvy látek
• beta-galaktosidasa MeSH
• ligandy MeSH

Phosphofructokinase-1 (PFK1) catalyzes the rate-limiting step of glycolysis, committing glucose to conversion into cellular energy. PFK1 is highly regulated to respond to the changing energy needs of the cell. In bacteria, the structural basis of PFK1 regulation is a textbook example of allostery; molecular signals of low and high cellular energy promote transition between an active R-state and inactive T-state conformation, respectively Little is known, however, about the structural basis for regulation of eukaryotic PFK1. Here, we determine structures of the human liver isoform of PFK1 (PFKL) in the R- and T-state by cryoEM, providing insight into eukaryotic PFK1 allosteric regulatory mechanisms. The T-state structure reveals conformational differences between the bacterial and eukaryotic enzyme, the mechanisms of allosteric inhibition by ATP binding at multiple sites, and an autoinhibitory role of the C-terminus in stabilizing the T-state. We also determine structures of PFKL filaments that define the mechanism of higher-order assembly and demonstrate that these structures are necessary for higher-order assembly of PFKL in cells.

• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• preprinty MeSH