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Small molecules have critical roles at all levels of biological complexity and yet remain orphans of the central dogma. Chemical biologists, working with small molecules, expand our understanding of these central elements of life.
Apoptosis occurs through precise cellular pathways, whereas necrosis is generally thought of as a nonspecific cellular response to external damage. However, identification of a chemical inhibitor of necrotic events suggests that specific molecular pathways can also trigger necrosis.
Retroviruses have a stretch of RNA that dimerizes during viral particle formation. A new study suggests that RNA flexibility in the monomeric form may facilitate dimerization or other RNA-dependent viral functions.
Prenylation represents a critical step in the biosynthesis of many natural products. A new study reveals how aromatic prenyltransferase enzymes tolerate diverse aromatic polyketides while still controlling the length of prenyl side chains.
Identification of endogenous glycan-binding ligands for cell-surface receptors has been difficult. Incorporation of a photoactive sialic acid analog into B-cell surface glycoproteins suggests that CD22 molecules may cluster by binding carbohydrate antigens on neighboring CD22 molecules.
Ribozymes are enzymes comprised of RNA that fold into three-dimensional structures and that catalyze chemical reactions central to all cells. A new study shows that ribozymes, like proteins, may use general acid catalysis as part of their catalytic toolkit.