Nature Chemical Biology - CURRENT ISSUE : September 2008 - Vol 4 No 9
LATEST HIGHLIGHTS
CURRENT ISSUE
Fermenting alkaloids
Article by Hawkins & SmolkeThe benzylisoquinoline alkaloids, a group of plant metabolites that have a wide range of pharmacological activities, are difficult to synthesize or to obtain from natural sources. Expression of plant biosynthetic enzymes in yeast provides a new approach to alkaloid synthesis.
FOCUS
New mechanistic insights are extending our understanding of cooperativity in biochemical processes. In this issue, we feature a collection of articles highlighting current research and future challenges in exploring cooperative systems in chemistry and biology.
CURRENT ISSUE
β-Lactones latch on
Article by WangActivity-based probes are important tools in identifying new proteins and tracking the biological function of known proteins. The use of one such probe, primed with a reactive β-lactone, identified the unexpected function of a peptide ligase in a suspected protease.
CURRENT ISSUE
A biomimetic cascade
Brief Communication by VolgrafBiomimetic synthesis is an attractive route to natural products. A catecholamine reaction cascade is used to obtain exiguamine A, a potent inhibitor of an enzyme that helps degrade tryptophan and may be involved in solid tumor survival.
CURRENT ISSUE
Adopting an orphan receptor
Article by ZhanThe nuclear orphan receptor Nur77 is a transcription factor with roles in apoptosis and glucose homeostasis. An octaketide is identified as the first agonist for Nur77 and will be useful for further exploring the receptor's function.
CURRENT ISSUE
Rafting the Akt rapids
Article by LasserreLipid rafts are thought to be important in cell membrane organization and function, but the role and composition of these domains is not clear. A new study shows that rafts affect signaling pathways, and that proteins may play an active role in raft formation.
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