The 19S regulatory particle (RP) associates with the 20S core particle (CP) to form the 26S proteasome, an evolutionarily conserved holoenzyme that plays key roles in both physiological and pathological processes. Proteasome inhibitors that target the catalytic subunits within the 20S have proven to be valuable research tools and therapeutics for various cancers. Herein we report the discovery of rapaprotin, a 26S proteasome assembly inhibitor from our natural product-inspired hybrid macrocycle rapafucin library. Rapaprotin induces apoptosis in both myeloma and leukemia cell lines. Genome-wide CRISPR-Cas9 screen identified a cytosolic enzyme, prolyl endopeptidase (PREP) that is required for the pro-apoptotic activity of rapaprotin. Further mechanistic studies revealed that rapaprotin acts as a molecular transformer, changing from an inactive cyclic form into an active linear form, rapaprotin-L, upon PREP cleavage, to block 26S proteasome activity. Time-resolved cryogenic electron microscopy (cryo-EM) revealed that rapaprotin-L induces dissociation of the 19S RP from the 26S holoenzyme, which was verified in cells. Furthermore, rapaprotin exhibits a marked synergistic effect with FDA-approved proteasome inhibitors and resensitizes drug-resistant multiple myeloma cells from patients to bortezomib. Taken together, these results suggest that rapaprotin is a new chemical tool to probe the dynamics of the 26S proteasome assembly and a promising anticancer drug lead.

During virus entry, the pretriggered human immunodeficiency virus (HIV-1) envelope glycoprotein (Env) trimer initially transits into a default intermediate state (DIS) that remains structurally uncharacterized. Here, we present cryo-EM structures at near-atomic resolution of two cleaved full-length HIV-1 Env trimers purified from cell membranes in styrene-maleic acid lipid nanoparticles without antibodies or receptors. The cleaved Env trimers exhibited tighter subunit packing than uncleaved trimers. Cleaved and uncleaved Env trimers assumed remarkably consistent yet distinct asymmetric conformations, with one smaller and two larger opening angles. Breaking conformational symmetry is allosterically coupled with dynamic helical transformations of the gp41 N-terminal heptad repeat (HR1 N ) regions in two protomers and with trimer tilting in the membrane. The broken symmetry of the DIS potentially assists Env binding to two CD4 receptors—while resisting antibody binding—and promotes extension of the gp41 HR1 helical coiled-coil, which relocates the fusion peptide closer to the target cell membrane.

This paper presents an AlN-based piezoelectric micromachined ultrasonic transducer (PMUT) with a double-beam suspended structure. In order to obtain greater deflection displacement and output sound pressure compared to standard systems, a suspended structure is proposed, achieved by utilizing double-sided deep reactive ion etching of the silicon substrate. This structure is capable of greatly reducing the tensile stress caused by deflection on the membrane edge, thereby improving the piezoelectric micromachined ultrasound transducer performance. Simulations are performed using the finite element method and COMSOL software, with results demonstrating that the suspension structure exhibits a lower resonant frequency and a larger membrane deflection displacement than other methods, implying higher penetration and acoustic energy levels. Thus, the sound pressure is improved by changing the PMUT structure. Moreover, a PMUT with a double-beam is fabricated, and the impedance diagram is determined with an impedance analyzer. The resonant frequency of the transducer was 31.88 kHz, while the sound wave received by the standard lead zirconate titanate (PZT) ultrasonic transducer was converted to a voltage of 277.5 mV. In comparison, the proposed PMUT demonstrates an improved acoustic emission performance. In addition, the electromechanical coupling coefficient of the suspended PMUT is observed to be approximately 3.08%, which is significantly better than that of a fully clamped PMUT. This demonstrates the strong electromechanical conversion performance of the proposed PMUT. Results from the transmission and reception air experiments prove that the proposed double-beam PMUT can potentially be used for ranging and wireless energy transmission applications.

Coronavirus disease(COVID-19)remains rampant worldwide and poses a serious threat to human health.Tea is a medicinal and edible homologous plant that exhibits potential anti-SARS-CoV-2 properties via the prevention of virus entry into host cells,inhibition of virus replication,and enhancement of the innate and cellular immune responses.In this review,the properties of six major types of tea were systematically summarized,including green tea,yellow tea,white tea,oolong tea,black tea,and dark tea.We focused on the primary components of tea exhibiting antiviral activities,which included(-)-epigallocatechin-3-gallate,(-)-gallocatechin gallate,tannic acid,oolonghomobisflavan A,theaflavins,and white-tip silver needle flavonoids.Among them,(-)-epigallocatechin-3-gallate is proposed to be an antiviral compound that interferes with the entire life cycle of SARS-CoV-2 by balancing inflammation and immunity.Thus,this compound can serve as a promising lead structure for the development of SARS-CoV-2 inhibitors.

The functional human immunodeficiency virus (HIV-1) envelope glycoprotein (Env) trimer [(gp120/gp41)3] is produced by cleavage of a conformationally flexible gp160 precursor. gp160 cleavage or the binding of BMS-806, an entry inhibitor, stabilizes the pretriggered, "closed" (state 1) conformation recognized by rarely elicited broadly neutralizing antibodies. Poorly neutralizing antibodies (pNAbs) elicited at high titers during natural infection recognize more "open" Env conformations (states 2 and 3) induced by binding the receptor, CD4. We found that BMS-806 treatment and cross-linking decreased the exposure of pNAb epitopes on cell surface gp160; however, after detergent solubilization, cross-linked and BMS-806-treated gp160 sampled non-state-1 conformations that could be recognized by pNAbs. Cryo-electron microscopy of the purified BMS-806-bound gp160 revealed two hitherto unknown asymmetric trimer conformations, providing insights into the allosteric coupling between trimer opening and structural variation in the gp41 HR1N region. The individual protomer structures in the asymmetric gp160 trimers resemble those of other genetically modified or antibody-bound cleaved HIV-1 Env trimers, which have been suggested to assume state-2-like conformations. Asymmetry of the uncleaved Env potentially exposes surfaces of the trimer to pNAbs. To evaluate the effect of stabilizing a state-1-like conformation of the membrane Env precursor, we treated cells expressing wild-type HIV-1 Env with BMS-806. BMS-806 treatment decreased both gp160 cleavage and the addition of complex glycans, implying that gp160 conformational flexibility contributes to the efficiency of these processes. Selective pressure to maintain flexibility in the precursor of functional Env allows the uncleaved Env to sample asymmetric conformations that potentially skew host antibody responses toward pNAbs. IMPORTANCE The envelope glycoprotein (Env) trimers on the surface of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV-1) mediate the entry of the virus into host cells and serve as targets for neutralizing antibodies. The functional Env trimer is produced by cleavage of the gp160 precursor in the infected cell. We found that the HIV-1 Env precursor is highly plastic, allowing it to assume different asymmetric shapes. This conformational plasticity is potentially important for Env cleavage and proper modification by sugars. Having a flexible, asymmetric Env precursor that can misdirect host antibody responses without compromising virus infectivity would be an advantage for a persistent virus like HIV-1.

The 2.5-MDa 26S proteasome maintains proteostasis and regulates myriad cellular processes. How polyubiquitylated substrate interactions regulate proteasome activity is not understood. Here we introduce a deep manifold learning framework, named AlphaCryo4D, which enables atomic-level cryogenic electron microscopy (cryo-EM) reconstructions of nonequilibrium conformational continuum and reconstitutes hidden dynamics of proteasome autoregulation in the act of substrate degradation. AlphaCryo4D integrates 3D deep residual learning with manifold embedding of free-energy landscapes, which directs 3D clustering via an energy-based particle-voting algorithm. In blind assessments using simulated heterogeneous cryo-EM datasets, AlphaCryo4D achieved 3D classification accuracy three times that of conventional method and reconstructed continuous conformational changes of a 130-kDa protein at sub-3-angstrom resolution. By using AlphaCryo4D to analyze a single experimental cryo-EM dataset, we identified 64 conformers of the substrate-bound human 26S proteasome, revealing conformational entanglement of two regulatory particles in the doubly capped holoenzymes and their energetic differences with singly capped ones. Novel ubiquitin-binding sites are discovered on the RPN2, RPN10 and Alpha5 subunits to remodel polyubiquitin chains for deubiquitylation and recycle. Importantly, AlphaCryo4D choreographs single-nucleotide-exchange dynamics of proteasomal AAA-ATPase motor during translocation initiation, which upregulates proteolytic activity by allosterically promoting nucleophilic attack. Our systemic analysis illuminates a grand hierarchical allostery for proteasome autoregulation.

The 2.5-MDa 26S proteasome maintains proteostasis and regulates myriad cellular processes. How polyubiquitylated substrate interactions regulate proteasome activity is not understood. Here we reconstitute hidden dynamics of proteasome autoregulation during protein degradation by cryo-electron microscopy. We identified 64 conformers of the substrate-bound human 26S proteasome via deep classification. These structures unexpectedly revealed substrate-dependent conformational entanglement of two regulatory particles in the doubly capped holoenzymes and energetic differences between doubly and singly capped ones. Novel ubiquitin-binding sites were delineated on the RPN2, RPN10 and α5 subunits, which remodel polyubiquitin chains for deubiquitylation and recycling. Importantly, single-nucleotide-exchange dynamics of proteasomal AAA-ATPase motor were choregraphed during translocation initiation, which upregulates proteolytic activity by allosterically promoting nucleophilic attack. Our systematic analysis illuminates a grand hierarchical allostery for proteasome autoregulation.

The cellular functions are executed by macromolecular complexes in nonequilibrium dynamic processes, which exhibit a vast diversity of conformational states. Solving conformational continuum of important complexes at atomic level remains a key challenge in the methodology of computational biophysics. Here we introduce a deep-learning framework, named AlphaCryo4D, which enables atomic-level cryogenic electron microscopy reconstructions of nonequilibrium conformational continuum. AlphaCryo4D integrates 3D deep residual learning with manifold embedding of energy landscapes, which simultaneously improves 3D classification accuracy and reconstruction resolution via an energy-based particle-voting algorithm. Applications of this methodology to six experimental datasets demonstrated its generality in breaking resolution barrier of visualizing dynamic components of functional complexes, in choreographing continuous inter-subunit motions and in exploring their ‘hidden’ conformational space. Importantly, AlphaCryo4D identified 64 conformers of the substrate-bound human 26S proteasome and reconstituted single-nucleotide-exchange dynamics of proteasomal AAA-ATPase motor during translocation initiation, which together illuminates a grand hierarchical allostery for proteasome autoregulation.

BackgroundThe detection of weak signals and selection of single particles from low-contrast micrographs of frozen hydrated biomolecules by cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) represents a major practical bottleneck in cryo-EM data analysis. Template-based particle picking by an objective function using fast local correlation (FLC) allows computational extraction of a large number of candidate particles from micrographs. Another independent objective function based on maximum likelihood estimates (MLE) can be used to align the images and verify the presence of a signal in the selected particles. Despite the widespread applications of the two objective functions, an optimal combination of their utilities has not been exploited. Here we propose a bi-objective function (BOF) approach that combines both FLC and MLE and explore the potential advantages and limitations of BOF in signal detection from cryo-EM data.ResultsThe robustness of the BOF strategy in particle selection and verification was systematically examined with both simulated and experimental cryo-EM data. We investigated how the performance of the BOF approach is quantitatively affected by the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of cryo-EM data and by the choice of initialization for FLC and MLE. We quantitatively pinpointed the critical SNR (0.005), at which the BOF approach starts losing its ability to select and verify particles reliably. We found that the use of a Gaussian model to initialize the MLE suppresses the adverse effects of reference dependency in the FLC function used for template-matching.ConclusionThe BOF approach, which combines two distinct objective functions, provides a sensitive way to verify particles for downstream cryo-EM structure analysis. Importantly, reference dependency of the FLC does not necessarily transfer to the MLE, enabling the robust detection of weak signals. Our insights into the numerical behavior of the BOF approach can be used to improve automation efficiency in the cryo-EM data processing pipeline for high-resolution structural determination.

The NLRP3 inflammasome can be activated by stimuli that include nigericin, uric acid crystals, amyloid-β fibrils and extracellular ATP. The mitotic kinase NEK7 licenses the assembly and activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome in interphase. Here we report a cryo-electron microscopy structure of inactive human NLRP3 in complex with NEK7, at a resolution of 3.8 Å. The earring-shaped NLRP3 consists of curved leucine-rich-repeat and globular NACHT domains, and the C-terminal lobe of NEK7 nestles against both NLRP3 domains. Structural recognition between NLRP3 and NEK7 is confirmed by mutagenesis both in vitro and in cells. Modelling of an active NLRP3–NEK7 conformation based on the NLRC4 inflammasome predicts an additional contact between an NLRP3-bound NEK7 and a neighbouring NLRP3. Mutations to this interface abolish the ability of NEK7 or NLRP3 to rescue NLRP3 activation in NEK7-knockout or NLRP3-knockout cells. These data suggest that NEK7 bridges adjacent NLRP3 subunits with bipartite interactions to mediate the activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome. A cryo-electron microscopy structure of human NLRP3 in complex with the mitotic kinase NEK7 provides insights into the interactions that mediate the activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome.

The human immunodeficiency virus (HIV-1) envelope glycoprotein (Env) trimer mediates viral entry into cells and is the major target for the host antibody response. In infected cells, the mature Env [(gp120/gp41)3] is produced by cleavage of a trimeric gp160 precursor. Proteolytic cleavage decreases Env conformational flexibility, allowing the mature Env to resist antibody binding to conserved elements. The conformational plasticity of the Env precursor skews the humoral immune response towards the elicitation of ineffectual antibodies, contributing to HIV-1 persistence in the infected host. The structural basis for the plasticity of the Env precursor remains elusive. Here we use cryo-electron microscopy to visualize two coexisting conformational states of the full-length Env precursor at nominal resolutions of 5.5 and 8.0 Å. The State-P2 conformation features a three-helix bundle of the gp41 heptad repeat region in the core, but has disordered membrane-interactive regions. State-P1 trimers lack the three-helix bundle and instead retain ordered transmembrane and membrane-proximal external regions embracing a central cavity. Our structural data shed light on the unusual plasticity of the Env precursor and provide new clues to Env immunogen discovery.

The proteasome is an ATP-dependent 2.5-megadalton machine responsible for ubiquitylated protein degradation in all eukaryotic cells. Here we present cryo-EM structures of the substrate-engaged human 26S proteasome in seven conformational states at 2.8-3.6 Å resolution, captured during polyubiquitylated protein degradation. These structures visualize a continuum of dynamic substrate-proteasome interactions from ubiquitin recognition to processive substrate translocation, during which ATP hydrolysis sequentially navigate through all six ATPase subunits. Three principle modes of coordinated ATP hydrolysis are observed, featuring hydrolytic events in two oppositely positioned ATPases, in two consecutive ATPases, and in one ATPase at a time. They regulate deubiquitylation, translocation initiation and processive unfolding of substrates, respectively. A collective power stroke in the ATPase motor is generated by synchronized ATP binding and ADP release in the substrate-engaging and disengaging ATPases, respectively. It is amplified largely in the substrate-disengaging ATPase, and propagated unidirectionally by coordinated ATP hydrolysis in the third consecutive ATPase.

The proteasome is an ATP-dependent, 2.5-megadalton molecular machine that is responsible for selective protein degradation in eukaryotic cells. Here we present cryo-electron microscopy structures of the substrate-engaged human proteasome in seven conformational states at 2.8–3.6 Å resolution, captured during breakdown of a polyubiquitylated protein. These structures illuminate a spatiotemporal continuum of dynamic substrate–proteasome interactions from ubiquitin recognition to substrate translocation, during which ATP hydrolysis sequentially navigates through all six ATPases. There are three principal modes of coordinated hydrolysis, featuring hydrolytic events in two oppositely positioned ATPases, in two adjacent ATPases and in one ATPase at a time. These hydrolytic modes regulate deubiquitylation, initiation of translocation and processive unfolding of substrates, respectively. Hydrolysis of ATP powers a hinge-like motion in each ATPase that regulates its substrate interaction. Synchronization of ATP binding, ADP release and ATP hydrolysis in three adjacent ATPases drives rigid-body rotations of substrate-bound ATPases that are propagated unidirectionally in the ATPase ring and unfold the substrate. Cryo-electron microscopy structures and dynamics of a substrate-engaged human 26S proteasome reveal in atomic detail three principal modes of coordinated ATP hydrolysis that regulate different steps in the degradation of a ubiquitylated protein.

The proteasome is a sophisticated ATP-dependent molecular machine responsible for protein degradation in all known eukaryotic cells. It remains elusive how conformational changes of the AAA-ATPase unfoldase in the regulatory particle (RP) control the gating of the substrate-translocation channel leading to the proteolytic chamber of the core particle (CP). Here we report three alternative states of the ATP-γ-S-bound human proteasome, in which the CP gates are asymmetrically open, visualized by cryo-EM at near-atomic resolutions. At least four nucleotides are bound to the AAA-ATPase ring in these open-gate states. Variation in nucleotide binding gives rise to an axial movement of the pore loops narrowing the substrate-translation channel, which exhibit remarkable structural transitions between the spiral-staircase and saddle-shaped-circle topologies. Gate opening in the CP is thus regulated by nucleotide-driven conformational changes of the AAA-ATPase unfoldase. These findings demonstrate an elegant mechanism of allosteric coordination among sub-machines within the human proteasome holoenzyme.

The proteasome is a sophisticated ATP-dependent molecular machine responsible for protein degradation in all eukaryotic cells. It remains elusive how conformational changes of the AAA-ATPase unfoldase in the regulatory particle (RP) control the gating of substrate-translocation channel to the proteolytic chamber of the core particle (CP). Here we report three alternative states of the ATP-γS-bound human proteasome, in which the CP gate is asymmetrically open, visualized by cryo-EM at near-atomic resolutions. Only four nucleotides are stably bound to the AAA-ATPase ring in the open-gate states. Concerted nucleotide exchange gives rise to a back-and-forth wobbling motion of the AAA-ATPase channel, coincident with remarkable transitions of their pore loops between the spiral staircase and saddle-shaped circle topologies. Gate opening in the CP is thus controlled with nucleotide-driven remodeling of the AAA-ATPase unfoldase. These findings demonstrate an elegant mechanism of allosteric coordination among sub-machines within the holoenzyme that is crucial for substrate translocation.

Significance Double-stranded DNA breaks pose a serious threat to the survival of cells. Nonhomologous end joining (NHEJ) is a crucial DNA repair pathway in which the DNA-dependent protein kinase (DNA-PK) complex, a key holoenzyme consisting of the Ku70/80 heterodimer and the catalytic subunit DNA-PKcs, senses DNA breaks and initiates the NHEJ repair pathway. Here, we present cryo-EM structures of the DNA-PK complex. Together with previous structural and biochemical studies, our structures lead to a partial model for the interactions between DNA-PKcs and the Ku70/80 complex, and reveal how the DNA-PK complex may bring free ends of damaged DNA for repair.

The NLR family apoptosis inhibitory proteins (NAIPs) bind conserved bacterial ligands, such as the bacterial rod protein PrgJ, and recruit NLR family CARD-containing protein 4 (NLRC4) as the inflammasome adapter to activate innate immunity. We found that the PrgJ-NAIP2-NLRC4 inflammasome is assembled into multisubunit disk-like structures through a unidirectional adenosine triphosphatase polymerization, primed with a single PrgJ-activated NAIP2 per disk. Cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) reconstruction at subnanometer resolution revealed a similar to 90 degrees hinge rotation accompanying NLRC4 activation. Unlike in the related heptameric Apaf-1 apoptosome, in which each subunit needs to be conformationally activated by its ligand before assembly, a single PrgJ-activated NAIP2 initiates NLRC4 polymerization in a domino-like reaction to promote the disk assembly. These insights reveal the mechanism of signal amplification in NAIP-NLRC4 inflammasomes.

DNA is a unique nanoscale material that enables the design and synthesis of nanoscale structures of prescribed shape and functionality via programmable self-assembly. Angstrom-level control over the location and orientation of programmed Watson-Crick basepairs offers the ability to scaffold and spatially organize optically active materials to yield novel optical and photonic properties. Here, we present two distinct strategies for designing and synthesizing DNA-based photonic materials, and emphasize the roles of computational modeling in this process. First, we use computational modeling to design mechanically stiff nanoscale DNA "molds" that have user-specified three-dimensional cavity with a nucleating gold seed, which grows in solution to fill and replicate the cavity. We demonstrate the capability of producing nanoparticles of various shapes and materials that exhibit plasmonic properties that are consistent with electromagnetism simulations. In silico design of stiff molds of nearly arbitrary geometric cavities with resulting optical properties that are prescribed a priori enable a property-by-design framework for producing inorganic particles with prescribed functional properties. Second, we use DNA to program the scaffolding of chromophores into complex three-dimensional assemblies, enabling controlled energy transfer at the nanoscale. This strategy is inspired by nature, where cells use organized assemblies of chromophores to capture photons and funnel the resulting excitons toward the reaction center where they are converted to chemical energy. In particular, the close-packing of chromophores results in the emergence of quantum coherence that can strongly affect exciton transport across the structure. Using Förster energy transfer modeling, as well as a hybrid molecular dynamics and quantum mechanical approach, we demonstrate how emergent excitonic and light-harvesting properties of diverse DNA-dye assemblies can be elucidated.

In the analysis of frozen hydrated biomolecules by single-particle cryo-electron microscopy, template-based particle picking by a target function called fast local correlation (FLC) allows a large number of particle images to be automatically picked from micrographs. A second, independent target function based on maximum likelihood (ML) can be used to align the images and verify the presence of signal in the picked particles. Although the paradigm of this dual-target-function (DTF) evaluation of single-particle selection has been practiced in recent years, it remains unclear how the performance of this DTF approach is affected by the signal-to-noise ratio of the images and by the choice of references for FLC and ML. Here we examine this problem through a systematic study of simulated data, followed by experimental substantiation. We quantitatively pinpoint the critical signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), at which the DTF approach starts losing its ability to select and verify particles from cryo-EM micrographs. A Gaussian model is shown to be as effective in picking particles as a single projection view of the imaged molecule in the tested cases. For both simulated micrographs and real cryo-EM data of the 173-kDa glucose isomerase complex, we found that the use of a Gaussian model to initialize the target functions suppressed the detrimental effect of reference bias in template-based particle selection. Given a sufficient signal-to-noise ratio in the images and the appropriate choice of references, the DTF approach can expedite the automated assembly of single-particle data sets.

Fabricating stable functional devices at the atomic scale is an ultimate goal of nanotechnology. In biological processes, such high-precision operations are accomplished by enzymes. A counterpart molecular catalyst that binds to a solid-state substrate would be highly desirable. Here, we report the direct observation of single Si adatoms catalyzing the dissociation of carbon atoms from graphene in an aberration-corrected high-resolution transmission electron microscope (HRTEM). The single Si atom provides a catalytic wedge for energetic electrons to chisel off the graphene lattice, atom by atom, while the Si atom itself is not consumed. The products of the chiseling process are atomic-scale features including graphene pores and clean edges. Our experimental observations and first-principles calculations demonstrated the dynamics, stability, and selectivity of such a single-atom chisel, which opens up the possibility of fabricating certain stable molecular devices by precise modification of materials at the atomic scale.