In this issue - pv

doi:10.1038/nchembio0408-v

Full Text - In this issue | PDF (161 KB) - In this issue

Chemical biology on the brain - p215

doi:10.1038/nchembio0408-215

A two-day symposium on chemical neurobiology revealed an open frontier for researchers at the interface of chemistry and neuroscience.

Full Text - Chemical biology on the brain | PDF (126 KB) - Chemical biology on the brain

Evolving biosynthetic tangos negotiate mechanistic landscapes - pp217 - 222

Michael B Austin, Paul E O'Maille & Joseph P Noel

doi:10.1038/nchembio0408-217

Abstract - Evolving biosynthetic tangos negotiate mechanistic landscapes | Full Text - Evolving biosynthetic tangos negotiate mechanistic landscapes | PDF (530 KB) - Evolving biosynthetic tangos negotiate mechanistic landscapes

GPIs on a chip - pp223 - 224

Michael A J Ferguson

doi:10.1038/nchembio0408-223

Synthetic organic chemistry of complex natural products and their substructures provides challenges for the chemist and invaluable tools for the biologist. The production of a 'GPI chip', a device for simultaneously measuring and characterizing antibody responses to GPI structures, is applied to dissect malaria-induced antibody responses.

Full Text - GPIs on a chip | PDF (365 KB) - GPIs on a chip

See also: Brief Communication by Kamena et al.

Lipids out of order - pp225 - 226

Sarah L Veatch

doi:10.1038/nchembio0408-225

An in-depth biophysical look at lipids in the influenza viral envelope reveals disordered membranes at physiological temperatures, and will likely reshape the debate over the role of lipids and proteins in biomembranes.

Full Text - Lipids out of order | PDF (997 KB) - Lipids out of order

See also: Article by Polozov et al.

Fast-tracking steroid receptor crystallization - pp226 - 227

Sylvie Mader

doi:10.1038/nchembio0408-226

Crystallographic analysis has been instrumental in revealing the molecular basis for the pharmacological properties of several natural and synthetic ligands of steroid receptors, but it is often a long and arduous process. A new method for stabilizing these receptors greatly accelerates this process, allowing generation of apo receptor crystals and the comparison of multiple structures to define pathway-specific interactions.

Full Text - Fast-tracking steroid receptor crystallization | PDF (251 KB) - Fast-tracking steroid receptor crystallization

See also: Article by Nettles et al.

OTU takes the chains OUT - pp227 - 228

Maxim Y Balakirev & Keith D Wilkinson

doi:10.1038/nchembio0408-227

A20 protein, a regulator of inflammation and cell survival, modulates cellular signaling via two apparently opposite enzyme activities. Recent studies elucidate the unusual structural organization of the A20 protease domain and provide new mechanistic insights into its biological function.

Full Text - OTU takes the chains OUT | PDF (348 KB) - OTU takes the chains OUT

Signal transduction via unstructured protein conduits - pp229 - 230

A Keith Dunker & Vladimir N Uversky

doi:10.1038/nchembio0408-229

Signaling via phosphorylation-regulated protein-protein interactions often involves flexible or unstructured proteins. Detailed biophysical and computational studies on one such interaction reveal a marvelously intricate, temporally regulated, multistep conduit for signal transduction in the cell cycle.

Full Text - Signal transduction via unstructured protein conduits | PDF (394 KB) - Signal transduction via unstructured protein conduits

Research highlights - p231

doi:10.1038/nchembio0408-231

Full Text - Research highlights | PDF (112 KB) - Research highlights