research advances

Synopses of important developments in the field of structural biology and structural genomics, including advances from the Protein Structure Initiative. The featured articles and technical highlights are specially written for the Structural Biology Knowledgebase, while the research highlights are taken from NPG publications.

April 2011

featured articles
- Added benefits
  
  Biochemical, structural and genetic analyses reveal that the E. coli Cas1 protein YgbT belongs to a novel family of nucleases and that, in addition to antiviral immunity, the CRISPR–Cas system functions in DNA repair.
- A glimpse of NDRG2
  
  While the NDRG family has been implicated in a number of diseases and cancers, the molecular function of these factors remains unclear. The structures of NDRG2 reveal unusual features that give insight into these functions.
research highlights
- Self-assembling cartwheels
  SAS-6 forms homodimers mediated by its coiled-coil domain in order to govern centriole formation, according to two new studies.
- Structure Watch
  Two studies reveal new insights into O-GlcNAc and clathrin functions.
technical highlights
- One at a time
  
  A trio of new approaches pushes forward the utility of single-molecule imaging.
- Capsid assembly in motion
  
  Using hydrogen–deuterium exchange, Gag immature, mature and cleavage-mutant particles are now examined to follow the dynamic changes that occur during capsid assembly.