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| Open AccessHairpin protein partitioning from the ER to lipid droplets involves major structural rearrangements
Lipid droplet (LD) function relies on protein partitioning between the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and LD. The authors show that UBXD8 adopts distinct conformations in both membranes and undergoes structural rearrangements during ER-to-LD partitioning.
- Ravi Dhiman
- , Rehani S. Perera
- & Bianca Schrul
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Article
| Open AccessUltrafast energy quenching mechanism of LHCSR3-dependent photoprotection in Chlamydomonas
The Light Harvesting Complex Stress-Related Protein (LHCSR) can protect algae from severe photodamage via energy-dependent quenching (qE). Here, the authors find that a photoproduct of carotenoid S1 state is populated in qE and depopulated in 7.5 ps.
- Mengyuan Zheng
- , Xiaojie Pang
- & Lijin Tian
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Article
| Open AccessAnalysis of early intermediate states of the nitrogenase reaction by regularization of EPR spectra
Here, the authors characterize selenium and sulphur incorporated FeMo cofactors of the catalytic MoFe protein component from Azotobacter vinelandii under turnover conditions using EPR.
- Lorenz Heidinger
- , Kathryn Perez
- & Erik Schleicher
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Article
| Open AccessProtein mimetic 2D FAST rescues alpha synuclein aggregation mediated early and post disease Parkinson’s phenotypes
The aggregation of the neuronal protein α-Synuclein is associated with the onset of Parkinson’s disease. Here the authors report a two-dimensional Fragment Assisted Structure-based technique to find antagonists of α-Synuclein aggregation and show its promise for identifying lead therapeutics for Parkinson’s disease.
- Nicholas H. Stillman
- , Johnson A. Joseph
- & Sunil Kumar
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Article
| Open AccessProbing the surface charge of condensates using microelectrophoresis
The surface charge and ζ-potential of biomolecular condensates is key to their interactions with membranes and proteins. Here, the authors developed a method to determine the ζ-potential of condensates using microelectrophoresis and single-droplet tracking.
- Merlijn H. I. van Haren
- , Brent S. Visser
- & Evan Spruijt
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Article
| Open AccessThe antimicrobial fibupeptide lugdunin forms water-filled channel structures in lipid membranes
The fibupeptide lugdunin has shown activity against antibiotic-resistant bacteria. Here, authors disclose its mechanism of action in lipid membranes and demonstrate that it assembles into nanotubes facilitating the translocation of monovalent cations.
- Dominik Ruppelt
- , Marius F. W. Trollmann
- & Claudia Steinem
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Article
| Open AccessLocal environment in biomolecular condensates modulates enzymatic activity across length scales
Here, the authors show that biomolecular condensates can enhance enzymatic rates by creating distinct solvent environments compared to the surrounding solution, and this emergent property can manifest within assemblies as small as nanometers.
- Marcos Gil-Garcia
- , Ana I. Benítez-Mateos
- & Paolo Arosio
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Article
| Open AccessEngineering an artificial catch bond using mechanical anisotropy
Catch bonds are unique protein-protein interactions where the bond lifetime increases under external pulling forces. Here, the authors engineer an artificial catch bond based on a non-catch bonding human gut bacterial adhesion protein complex.
- Zhaowei Liu
- , Haipei Liu
- & Michael A. Nash
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Article
| Open AccessMachine learning predictor PSPire screens for phase-separating proteins lacking intrinsically disordered regions
Here the authors report a machine learning model, PSPire, which integrates both residue-level and structure-level features and outperforms tools in identifying phase-separating proteins lacking intrinsically disordered regions.
- Shuang Hou
- , Jiaojiao Hu
- & Yong Zhang
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Article
| Open AccessUnderstanding activity-stability tradeoffs in biocatalysts by enzyme proximity sequencing
Understanding the complex relationships between enzyme sequence, folding stability and catalytic activity is essential for applications, but current technologies cannot simultaneously resolve both stability and activity phenotypes and couple these to gene sequences at large scale. Here, the authors report Enzyme Proximity Sequencing (EP-Seq), a deep mutational scanning method to assay both expression level and catalytic activity of thousands of oxidoreductase variants from a cellular pool in a single experiment.
- Rosario Vanella
- , Christoph Küng
- & Michael A. Nash
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Article
| Open AccessLarge dynamics of a phase separating arginine-glycine-rich domain revealed via nuclear and electron spins
The authors show the RNA-induced droplet formation by a component of Cajal bodies and reveal the large nanoseconds mobility of glycine residues inside droplets as a molecular factor potentially contributing to the large dynamics of Cajal bodies.
- Giuseppe Sicoli
- , Daniel Sieme
- & Nasrollah Rezaei-Ghaleh
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Article
| Open AccessAn alpha-helical lid guides the target DNA toward catalysis in CRISPR-Cas12a
CRISPR-Cas12a is a powerful RNA-guided genome-editing system. Saha et al. show that an alpha-helical lid plays the central role in guiding the target DNA toward the single RuvC nuclease domain, resulting in a double-stranded DNA break.
- Aakash Saha
- , Mohd Ahsan
- & Giulia Palermo
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Article
| Open AccessDynamics of activation in the voltage-sensing domain of Ciona intestinalis phosphatase Ci-VSP
Understanding the molecular basis of voltage-sensing is of great importance in biology. Here, the authors use computational analysis and simulations to reveal atomic level insights into the mechanism of an isolated voltage-sensing domain.
- Spencer C. Guo
- , Rong Shen
- & Aaron R. Dinner
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Article
| Open AccessMicrometer-thick and porous nanocomposite coating for electrochemical sensors with exceptional antifouling and electroconducting properties
It is vital but challenging to develop coating technologies for addressing reliability and durability issues of electrochemical sensors when exposed to diverse and complex biological environments. Here, the authors report a micrometer-thick, porous and robust nanocomposite coating that enables highly sensitive and stable electrochemical sensors.
- Jeong-Chan Lee
- , Su Yeong Kim
- & Donald E. Ingber
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Article
| Open AccessCompetition between inside-out unfolding and pathogenic aggregation in an amyloid-forming β-propeller
Here, the relationship between unfolding and amyloid aggregation of glaucoma-associated myocilin is probed, showing that myocilin is not at equilibrium and pathogenic aggregation competes directly with unfolding.
- Emily G. Saccuzzo
- , Mubark D. Mebrat
- & Raquel L. Lieberman
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Article
| Open AccessA single C-terminal residue controls SARS-CoV-2 spike trafficking and incorporation into VLPs
Dey et al. use structure-function methods to show that partial mimicry of the coatomer-binding motif in the SARS-CoV-2 spike is crucial for its release post coatomer-dependent delivery, thus ensuring optimal spike fusogenicity and VLP incorporation.
- Debajit Dey
- , Enya Qing
- & S. Saif Hasan
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Article
| Open AccessUnravelling the mechanism of neurotensin recognition by neurotensin receptor 1
GPCRs include inactive and active states. 19F-NMR and stopped-flow fluorescence kinetic assays reveal that neurotensin activates the prototypical peptide-binding GPCR, neurotensin receptor 1, through an induced-fit mechanism, where ligand binding precedes receptor conformational changes.
- Kazem Asadollahi
- , Sunnia Rajput
- & Paul R. Gooley
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Article
| Open AccessUnexpected dynamics in femtomolar complexes of binding proteins with peptides
High binding affinities are usually obtained when ligands are rigidified. Here the authors present flexible peptides binding to Armadillo repeat proteins with femtomolar affinity. They demonstrate that the bound state is characterized by residual dynamics limiting entropic losses upon binding.
- Stefano Cucuzza
- , Malgorzata Sitnik
- & Oliver Zerbe
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Article
| Open AccessSimulation-guided engineering of split GFPs with efficient β-strand photodissociation
Green fluorescent proteins (GFPs) are ubiquitous for protein tagging and live cell imaging. Here, authors have used computational methods to engineer a fast-dissociating split GFP, which could be used to study macromolecular interactions.
- Yasmin Shamsudin
- , Alice R. Walker
- & Steven G. Boxer
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| Open AccessFolding correctors can restore CFTR posttranslational folding landscape by allosteric domain–domain coupling
The conformational biogenesis of multi-domain ABC-transporters is poorly understood. Here the authors show the critical role of dynamic allosteric coupling networks, its perturbation and restoration in CFTR folding, misfolding, and pharmacological rescue, respectively.
- Naoto Soya
- , Haijin Xu
- & Gergely L. Lukacs
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Article
| Open AccessSynapsin condensation controls synaptic vesicle sequestering and dynamics
Brain functioning critically relies on coordinated neurotransmitter release by synaptic vesicles (SVs) at synapses. This study shows that synapsin/SVs condensation is sufficient to guarantee reliable confinement and motility of SVs at synapses in vivo.
- Christian Hoffmann
- , Jakob Rentsch
- & Dragomir Milovanovic
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Article
| Open AccessKinetics of the xanthophyll cycle and its role in photoprotective memory and response
This study explores how the photosynthetic alga Nannochloropsis oceanica, rapidly adapts to changing light conditions, using a short-term “memory" system involving the xanthophyll cycle, which is widespread in photosynthetic organisms.
- Audrey Short
- , Thomas P. Fay
- & Graham R. Fleming
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| Open AccessAn automated single-molecule FRET platform for high-content, multiwell plate screening of biomolecular conformations and dynamics
Single-molecule FRET (smFRET) studies often struggle with large parameter spaces. Here, the authors introduce an automated smFRET platform for multiwell plate screening of biomolecular conformations and dynamics.
- Andreas Hartmann
- , Koushik Sreenivasa
- & Michael Schlierf
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Article
| Open AccessIntegrative solution structure of PTBP1-IRES complex reveals strong compaction and ordering with residual conformational flexibility
An integrated structural biology approach is utilized to elucidate the solution structure of the polypyrimidine-tract binding protein 1 (PTBP1/hnRNP I) complexed with an internal ribosome entry site (IRES) RNA fragment from encephalomyocarditis virus (EMCV).
- Georg Dorn
- , Christoph Gmeiner
- & Frédéric H.-T. Allain
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Article
| Open AccessIntermolecular interactions underlie protein/peptide phase separation irrespective of sequence and structure at crowded milieu
In this work, the authors report that proteins/polypeptides with diverse sequences and structures can form liquid condensates, however with varying phase regimes and different modes of intermolecular interactions, spanning from electrostatic, hydrophobic and H-bond.
- Manisha Poudyal
- , Komal Patel
- & Samir K. Maji
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Article
| Open AccessGlycoproteomic landscape and structural dynamics of TIM family immune checkpoints enabled by mucinase SmE
Mucin glycoproteins are biologically relevant but are challenging to study. Here, the authors characterized the SmE enzyme and used it to glycoproteomic ally map immune checkpoint proteins. This information then drove MD simulations and binding assays to understand how glycosylation controls structure and function.
- Joann Chongsaritsinsuk
- , Alexandra D. Steigmeyer
- & Stacy A. Malaker
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Article
| Open AccessComparative mucomic analysis of three functionally distinct Cornu aspersum Secretions
Mucus are ubiquitous natural materials, but little is known about their structures or properties. Here, the authors identify the components of three functional mucus from snails, which are the focus of a rapidly growing number of biomedical and cosmetic applications.
- Antonio R. Cerullo
- , Maxwell B. McDermott
- & Adam B. Braunschweig
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Article
| Open AccessVisualizing single-molecule conformational transition and binding dynamics of intrinsically disordered proteins
Intrinsically disordered proteins (IDPs) are highly dynamic and play pivotal roles in cellular processes but can be difficult to study. Here, the authors develop a single-molecule nanocircuit for the real-time monitoring of c-Myc conformational transitions and their interaction with ligands.
- Wenzhe Liu
- , Limin Chen
- & Xuefeng Guo
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Article
| Open AccessQuantitative real-time in-cell imaging reveals heterogeneous clusters of proteins prior to condensation
The nucleation of biomolecular condensates is seldom quantified in living cells. Here, the authors show how protein clusters form before microscopically visible condensation and find a flat free-energy profile with active blocking of cluster growth.
- Chenyang Lan
- , Juhyeong Kim
- & Thorsten Hugel
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Article
| Open AccessControl of motor landing and processivity by the CAP-Gly domain in the KIF13B tail
Intracellular transport of material along microtubules by kinesin motors is critical for cellular homeostasis. Here the authors uncover a unique role for a specialized kinesin tail domain in directing motor transport along specific microtubule tracks.
- Xiangyu Fan
- & Richard J. McKenney
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Article
| Open AccessNetwork-wide thermodynamic constraints shape NAD(P)H cofactor specificity of biochemical reactions
NADH and NADPH are redox cofactors coexisting in all living cells. Here, the authors present a computational study suggesting that evolved NAD(P)H reaction specificities in E. coli are largely shaped by metabolic network structure enabling maximal thermodynamic driving forces close to the theoretical optimum.
- Pavlos Stephanos Bekiaris
- & Steffen Klamt
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Article
| Open AccessAffinity and cooperativity modulate ternary complex formation to drive targeted protein degradation
Targeted protein degradation using proteolysis targeting chimeras (PROTACs) represents an emergent therapeutic modality, however, the design of PROTACs is challenging due to multiple steps involved in PROTAC-induced degradation. Here, the authors establish a predictive framework to guide the design of potent degraders.
- Ryan P. Wurz
- , Huan Rui
- & Amit Vaish
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Article
| Open AccessCryo-EM and femtosecond spectroscopic studies provide mechanistic insight into the energy transfer in CpcL-phycobilisomes
CpcL-phycobilisome (PBS) is a type of small PBS that transfers energy directly to photosystem I (PSI) without a core structure. Here the authors combine cryo-electron microscopy and ultrafast spectroscopy to explore energy transfer pathway in CpcL-PBS.
- Lvqin Zheng
- , Zhengdong Zhang
- & Jindong Zhao
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Article
| Open AccessRapid and reversible optical switching of cell membrane area by an amphiphilic azobenzene
The surface area of living cells is tightly regulated. Here, authors show that the surface area and shape of cells can be reversibly manipulated with light using amphiphilic molecular photoswitches that enter and leave the membrane.
- Fabian Höglsperger
- , Bart E. Vos
- & Bart Jan Ravoo
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| Open AccessSensory ataxia and cardiac hypertrophy caused by neurovascular oxidative stress in chemogenetic transgenic mouse lines
Oxidative stress is associated with cardiovascular and neurodegenerative diseases. Here the authors show studies of transgenic chemogenetic mouse lines that develop sensory ataxia and cardiac hypertrophy caused by neurovascular oxidative stress.
- Shambhu Yadav
- , Markus Waldeck-Weiermair
- & Thomas Michel
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Article
| Open AccessEarly events in amyloid-β self-assembly probed by time-resolved solid state NMR and light scattering
Here the authors report time-resolved experiments showing that amyloid-β peptide molecules become partially structured even before they adhere to one another, within one millisecond. Peptide conformations change only slightly as assemblies grow in size for many minutes.
- Jaekyun Jeon
- , Wai-Ming Yau
- & Robert Tycko
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Article
| Open AccessParkinson’s disease-associated ATP13A2/PARK9 functions as a lysosomal H+,K+-ATPase
Mutations in the human ATP13A2, a lysosomal ATPase, is associated with pathogenesis of Parkinson’s disease. Here, the authors show that ATP13A2 functions as H + /K + transporting protein, preventing lysosomal alkalinization and α-synuclein accumulation.
- Takuto Fujii
- , Shushi Nagamori
- & Hideki Sakai
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Article
| Open AccessTurning up the heat mimics allosteric signaling in imidazole-glycerol phosphate synthase
Using a combination of MD simulations and NMR, the authors investigate how temperature affects allostery in imidazole glycerol phosphate synthase (IGPS), revealing that increase of temperature triggers local amino acid dynamics and providing insights into mechanism of allosteric regulation.
- Federica Maschietto
- , Uriel N. Morzan
- & Victor S. Batista
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Article
| Open AccessCollagen breaks at weak sacrificial bonds taming its mechanoradicals
Collagen is an important structural protein in connective tissue, but the effect of location and type of micro-ruptures in the structure on the overall tissue is not well understood. Here, the authors use scale-bridging simulations to determine the breakage points in collagen, and how the failure mode helps to prevent material ageing
- Benedikt Rennekamp
- , Christoph Karfusehr
- & Frauke Gräter
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Article
| Open AccessAutomated optimisation of solubility and conformational stability of antibodies and proteins
Antibodies find key applications in research, diagnostics, and therapeutics, but their development can be impeded by poor stability or solubility. Here the authors developed a computational strategy that enables antibody optimisation, without affecting functionality.
- Angelo Rosace
- , Anja Bennett
- & Pietro Sormanni
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Article
| Open AccessA generalizable nanopore sensor for highly specific protein detection at single-molecule precision
Sensitive and accurate approaches for protein detection have many potential applications. Here the authors show how engineered protein nanopore sensors, consisting of a monobody fused to a single-polypeptide nanopore, can be used for highly specific detection of proteins in complex biofluids.
- Mohammad Ahmad
- , Jeung-Hoi Ha
- & Liviu Movileanu
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Article
| Open AccessThe dynamic nature of netrin-1 and the structural basis for glycosaminoglycan fragment-induced filament formation
In this work, the authors report that heparin oligosaccharides have a significant impact on the highly dynamic behaviour of netrin-1 by inducing hierarchical and distinct super assemblies leading to unique, yet unknown netrin-1 filament formation.
- Markus Meier
- , Monika Gupta
- & Jörg Stetefeld
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Article
| Open AccessLigand-specific changes in conformational flexibility mediate long-range allostery in the lac repressor
Using hydrogen-deuterium exchange, the authors propose a model explaining how a classic transcription factor undergoes changes in its conformational ensemble in response to different ligands.
- Anum Glasgow
- , Helen T. Hobbs
- & Tanja Kortemme
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Article
| Open AccessAntibiotic thermorubin tethers ribosomal subunits and impedes A-site interactions to perturb protein synthesis in bacteria
Thermorubin is a ribosome-targeting antibiotic. Here, using fast-kinetics and cryoEM, the authors reveal that thermorubin primarily blocks ribosome-recycling by tethering the ribosomal subunits besides impeding translation elongation and termination steps.
- Narayan Prasad Parajuli
- , Andrew Emmerich
- & Suparna Sanyal
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Article
| Open AccessH2B ubiquitination recruits FACT to maintain a stable altered nucleosome state for transcriptional activation
Here the authors investigated the direct collaboration between ubiquitinated histone H2B (ubH2B) with FACT at the nucleosome level. They found ubH2B enhances FACT’s chaperone property, recruits FACT to form a stable altered nucleosome state, and provides a key platform for transcription.
- Anfeng Luo
- , Jingwei Kong
- & Ping Chen
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Article
| Open AccessDifferent pathways for engulfment and endocytosis of liquid droplets by nanovesicles
In this work, the authors investigate on how condensate droplets, arising from liquid-liquid phase separation, can be engulfed by nanovesicles via distinct pathways, leading to different vesicle-droplet morphologies. Two key parameters are the stress asymmetry of the vesicle membrane and the line tension of the contact line between vesicle and droplet.
- Rikhia Ghosh
- , Vahid Satarifard
- & Reinhard Lipowsky
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Article
| Open AccessSingle-exonuclease nanocircuits reveal the RNA degradation dynamics of PNPase and demonstrate potential for RNA sequencing
Observing the natural process of RNA degradation in real-time is a significant challenge. Here, the authors develop and use single-exonuclease nanocircuits to reveal the single-base degradation behaviour of PNPase, and demonstrate proof-of-principle RNA sequencing using this approach.
- Zhiheng Yang
- , Wenzhe Liu
- & Xuefeng Guo
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Article
| Open AccessDesign and characterization of a protein fold switching network
In this work the authors investigate the structure-sequence dependance. The ability to design and characterize proteins at interfaces between three common folds suggests that fold switching is an intrinsic feature of protein folding language and likely important in the evolution of protein structure and function.
- Biao Ruan
- , Yanan He
- & Philip N. Bryan
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Article
| Open AccessThermodynamic architecture and conformational plasticity of GPCRs
GPCRs are integral membrane proteins that serve as attractive drug targets. Here, authors delineate the conformational landscapes of 45 GPCRs using a statistical model, highlighting their malleable native ensembles and providing functional insights.
- Sathvik Anantakrishnan
- & Athi N. Naganathan