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Beyond their canonical functions of charging tRNAs with amino acids for protein translation, tRNA synthetases have numerous nontranslational roles that regulate signaling, immunity and development.
Metabolites and cofactors can be converted to unwanted compounds by promiscuous enzymes and spontaneous chemical reactions. The growing list of enzymes that correct or prevent these reactions, akin to those that combat DNA and protein damage, have important roles in maintaining homeostasis and preventing disease.
Dissecting the often subtle or time-sensitive roles of glycans in biology demands an increased availability of high-quality inhibitors for carbohydrate-processing enzymes. A review of lessons learned from other fields and considerations unique to glycobiology provides guidelines for development of these critical chemical tools.
Chromatin structure and its modulation by epigenetic mechanisms represent a complex system that regulates gene expression in cells. Chemical biology approaches, including chemical probes, designer chromatin and molecular-level analysis of chromatin states, offer powerful mechanistic tools for understanding and manipulating chromatin at all levels of cellular organization.
The large number of available chemical strategies to modify biomolecules can be overwhelming and time-consuming if adopted without careful consideration. Applying chemical logic to select context-dependent protocols can streamline this process substantially, leading to a wealth of functionalized materials for use in biology and materials science.
Antibiotics are critical defenses in the fight against bacterial infections, but they can also be used as probes to explore basic microbiology, including cell division, stress responses and cell wall biosynthesis, and will be valuable tools in deciphering bacterial networks and complexity.
The nonlinear variant of Raman spectroscopy, coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering (CARS) microscopy, combines powerful Raman signal enhancement with several other advantages such as label-free detection and has been used to image various cellular processes including host-pathogen interactions and lipid metabolism.
Autophagy has emerged as a drug target for various diseases including cancer and neurodegeneration. Small molecules that affect components of the autophagic machinery and signaling pathways have led to new insights into autophagic mechanisms and also serve as lead compounds for therapeutic application.