Very excited to share our latest paper! We solved the structure of the helper NLR NRC2 activated by the virus resistance protein Rx using cryo-EM. It forms a hexameric inflammasome-like resistosome!
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biorxiv.org/content/10.110…

In a recent pre-print from the Sorek Lab they discovered two proteins encoded by Bas63 phage, Adps and Namat, that regenerate NAD+ via a unique biochemical reaction! Interestingly, the ICP1 NAD+ regenerating proteins (orange) share structural homology to Adps and Namat (blue).

Did you know that phage can inject DNA, many proteins, recruit host membrane/membrane proteins and assemble a lipid vesicle to protect the genome?Deepto Mozumdar led this effort with contributions from a large multi-disciplinary team. Cell Host & Microbe
sciencedirect.com/science/articl…

Our paper on the molecular mechanism of plasmid elimination by the DdmDE defense system is now out in Science Magazine!

A great collaboration between the Martin Jinek lab at UZH Science and @Mblokesch at EPFL.

science.org/doi/10.1126/sc…

A🧵

Nature research paper: Experiment-free exoskeleton assistance via learning in simulation go.nature.com/45kok5S

Thrilled to see this one out! It's been so much fun to go over so many great papers from the last years 🙏🏼

Novel phage defense systems are getting out of hand

🦠Pathogenic bacterium Pseudomonas aeruginosa breaches lung defenses by targeting mucus producing goblet cells! Intracellular P. aeruginosa may evade immune system and antibiotic treatment, thereby driving chronic infections
NCCR AntiResist Institute of Human Biology doi.org/10.1038/s41564…

“characterized nine distinct DGR loci capable of generating 10^282 different combinations of target proteins” 😮😳

Targeted hypermutation of putative antigen sensors in multicellular bacteria | PNAS pnas.org/doi/abs/10.107…

Talking of golf, here's a trip down memory lane, spot anyone?

In Science Robotics, researchers report the development of Third Thumb—a robotic appendage that, when trialed by members of the general public, was a big hit.

Learn more in #ScienceAdviser : scim.ag/7dG
📩 Sign up for the daily #newsletter : scim.ag/7dH

Reverse translation!

The growing repertoire of phage anti-defence systems sciencedirect.com/science/articl…

Check out this super cool preprint from my coworker, Amy Conte, where she uncovered that an innate immune pathway in bacteria guards the chaperone DnaJ to detect infection! Lots of fun findings throughout, nice job Amy, such a fascinating story!! biorxiv.org/content/10.110…

Are you a researcher with an interest in #microbiology , #ecology and #evolution ? Join our upcoming scientific discussion meeting on the topic of microbial immune systems: ow.ly/fcKR50S89xA

Meet MagLOV: an engineered protein that responds STRONGLY to magnetic fields.

This is a fluorescence timelapse of MagLOV in E. coli. We're waving a (small) magnet under the plate.

Can you tell where the magnet is?

Want some? It's on Addgene now! addgene.org/219957/

Good rule of thumb for estimating the number of atoms in a cell.

A small cell, with 0.5 micron radius, has 55 billion atoms. From this, you can estimate approximate numbers of proteins, genome size, etc.

(Proteins have ~6,000 atoms. Each nucleotide has 50-60 atoms.)

This Third Thumb is *so cool*. I am unbelievably jealous of the folks who got to try it out! That story and more of the best in Science Magazine and science in this edition of #ScienceAdviser : science.org/content/articl…
Video credit: Dani Clode Design and the Plasticity Lab

the-scientist.com/multicellular-… Among other things, talks about Reverse transcriptase-based diversifying FGS domain systems that we first identified as key players in bacterial antiviral defense with analogies to animal mutagenesis of antigen receptors.

🤯 We were mind-blown when we saw that the RT-msDNAs form a “molecular cage” around the effectors.

The filaments stop (🛑🫷) the reaction in an intermediate step in which the NAD+ degradation product (ADPr) is covalently bound to the catalytic residue! 😯 (7/20)