In this issue - pv

doi:10.1038/nchembio0309-v

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Screening we can believe in - p127

Providers and users of chemical libraries must adopt quality and reporting standards to advance the impact of small-molecule high-throughput screening.

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Corrected structure of mirin, a small-molecule inhibitor of the Mre11–Rad50–Nbs1 complex - pp129 - 130

Kristen M Garner, Alexandre A Pletnev & Alan Eastman

doi:10.1038/nchembio0309-129

Full Text - Corrected structure of mirin, a small-molecule inhibitor of the Mre11–Rad50–Nbs1 complex | PDF (312 KB) - Corrected structure of mirin, a small-molecule inhibitor of the Mre11–Rad50–Nbs1 complex | Supplementary information

Reply to 'Corrected structure of mirin, a small-molecule inhibitor of the Mre11–Rad50–Nbs1 complex' - p130

Shaun Peterson, Lily Wang, Kirsten Robertson, Geralda Torchon, Ouathek Ouerfelli & Jean Gautier

doi:10.1038/nchembio0309-130

Full Text - Reply to 'Corrected structure of mirin, a small-molecule inhibitor of the Mre11–Rad50–Nbs1 complex' | PDF (138 KB) - Reply to 'Corrected structure of mirin, a small-molecule inhibitor of the Mre11–Rad50–Nbs1 complex'

Building a new conceptual framework for receptor heteromers - pp131 - 134

Sergi Ferré, Ruben Baler, Michel Bouvier, Marc G Caron, Lakshmi A Devi, Thierry Durroux, Kjell Fuxe, Susan R George, Jonathan A Javitch, Martin J Lohse, Ken Mackie, Graeme Milligan, Kevin D G Pfleger, Jean-Philippe Pin, Nora D Volkow, Maria Waldhoer, Amina S Woods & Rafael Franco

doi:10.1038/nchembio0309-131

Receptor heteromers constitute a new area of research that is reshaping our thinking about biochemistry, cell biology, pharmacology and drug discovery. In this commentary, we recommend clear definitions that should facilitate both information exchange and research on this growing class of transmembrane signal transduction units and their complex properties. We also consider research questions underlying the proposed nomenclature, with recommendations for receptor heteromer identification in native tissues and their use as targets for drug development.

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Membrane proteins take center stage in Frankfurt - pp135 - 139

Enrico Schleiff & Robert Tampé

doi:10.1038/nchembio0309-135

Biological membranes are dynamic frontiers whose molecules must delicately balance the needs for compartmentalization and communication, and the gap between the vital significance of transport and signaling through membranes and our poor understanding of the precise functionality of these processes is daunting. However, a recent conference highlighted promising progress in the field, particularly made possible by the increasing structural knowledge about membrane proteins.

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Alkaloid biosynthesis takes root - pp140 - 141

Katherine S Ryan & Bradley S Moore

doi:10.1038/nchembio0309-140

Engineered biosynthesis of modified natural products normally uses microbes as biochemical factories. Now, chemical biologists are taking advantage of the largely untapped biochemical potential of plants.

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See also: Brief Communication by Runguphan & O'Connor

Intracellular zinc irritates TRPA1 - pp141 - 142

Tue G Banke & Alan D Wickenden

doi:10.1038/nchembio0309-141

Exposure to zinc can cause pain and inflammation and can be harmful to human health. New evidence suggests that activation of the irritant receptor, TRPA1, which is expressed on pain-sensing neurons, may be responsible for some of these symptoms of zinc toxicity.

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See also: Article by Hu et al.

Ironing out a new siderophore synthesis strategy - pp143 - 144

Andrew M Gulick

doi:10.1038/nchembio0309-143

Under iron-depleted conditions, bacteria produce siderophores that bind iron and are then actively taken up by the cell. New structural and biochemical insights are reported for the synthetic pathway of achromobactin, a siderophore from the plant pathogen Pectobacterium chrysanthemi.

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See also: Article by Schmelz et al.

A pulse at the heart of targeted therapy - pp144 - 145

James E Bradner

doi:10.1038/nchembio0309-144

Inhibition of growth stimulatory pathways has emerged as a major focus of targeted cancer drug development. New insights regarding potent, transient inhibition of cell signaling may challenge the dogma of medicinal chemistry and clinical trial design.

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Signal sequences get active - pp146 - 147

Irmgard Sinning, Klemens Wild & Gert Bange

doi:10.1038/nchembio0309-146

Newly synthesized secretory and membrane proteins contain cleavable signal sequences at the N terminus that allow for cotranslational protein targeting by interaction with the signal recognition particle (SRP). New results now suggest that signal sequences enable the conserved SRP RNA to accelerate complex formation with the SRP receptor.

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Research highlights - pp148 - 149

doi:10.1038/nchembio0309-148

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Corrigendum: A forward chemical genetic screen reveals an inhibitor of the Mre11–Rad50–Nbs1 complex - p191

Aude Dupré, Louise Boyer-Chatenet, Rose M Sattler, Ami P Modi, Ji-Hoon Lee, Matthew L Nicolette, Levy Kopelovich, Maria Jasin, Richard Baer, Tanya T Paull & Jean Gautier

doi:10.1038/nchembio0309-191a

Full Text - Corrigendum: A forward chemical genetic screen reveals an inhibitor of the Mre11–Rad50–Nbs1 complex | PDF (84 KB) - Corrigendum: A forward chemical genetic screen reveals an inhibitor of the Mre11–Rad50–Nbs1 complex

Corrigendum: Small molecule versus DNA repair nanomachine - p191

James T Stivers

doi:10.1038/nchembio0309-191b

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Corrigendum: In this issue - p191

Mirella Bucci

doi:10.1038/nchembio0309-191c

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