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Brief Communication by Bjorkman and colleagues
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The poxvirus 2L protein binds tumor necrosis factor α (TNFα). Structural data now indicate that 2L interacts with TNFα at a site overlapping with that for its receptor, arguing for the basis of inhibition of receptor interaction and TNFα–induced immune responses.


Advance online publication

Pre-mRNA splicing is catalyzed by the spliceosome in a two-step reaction. Both catalytic steps have now been reconstituted using purified, defined components. This system identifies a role for Cwc25 in the first step of splicing and allows future detailed mechanistic analyses of splicing.


Advance online publication

In between telomeres
Article by Reddel and colleagues

Telomeric DNA is protected by the shelterin complex, whose disruption triggers DNA-damage responses, checkpoint activation and chromosomal fusions. Now analysis of human cell lines reveals a spontaneously occurring intermediate state in which the DNA-damage response is activated at the telomeres without cell cycle arrest or chromosomal fusions, and with TRF2 playing a central role.


Advance online publication

The TAK1 kinase binds K63-linked ubiquitin specifically via its TAB2 subunit. The structure of the TAB2 NZF domain in complex with K63-linked ubiquitins now indicates that this domain interacts with neighboring ubiquitins through distinct sites, explaining the basis of specific recognition.


Advance online publication

On specific DNA sequences in vitro, a nucleosome is a polar barrier to RNA polymerase II (Pol II). Further analyses of the sequences underlying this barrier effect now indicate the formation of a loop that would preserve the position of the nucleosome on the DNA, while allowing passage of Pol II.


Advance online publication

PYL/PYR proteins were recently described as receptors for the plant hormone abscisic acid (ABA) and as inhibitors of the phosphatases ABI1 and ABI2 in the presence of ABA. The crystal structures of PYL2 in its apo and ABA-bound forms and of the ternary complex PYL1–ABA–ABI1 have now been solved, providing insight into ABA sensing and signaling.


Advance online publication

De novo methylation of DNA can affect the function of underlying genes and transposons in plants. Using a genetic screen, two factors required for de novo demethylation in Arabidopsis thaliana are identified and analyzed.


Web focus

Focus on telomeres and ribosomes
Focus on telomeres and ribosomes

The 2009 Nobel Prizes celebrated research on telomeres and ribosomes. This web focus on telomeres and ribosomes collects current research papers, Reviews, Perspectives and News & Views from Nature Structural & Molecular Biology, as well as from Nature Reviews Molecular Cell Biology, that give a feel for the diversity of research in these continually evolving and exciting fields.




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