2020
Directional allosteric regulation of protein filament length
Jermyn AS, Cao W, Elam WA, De La Cruz EM, Lin MM. Directional allosteric regulation of protein filament length. Physical Review E 2020, 101: 032409. PMID: 32290018, PMCID: PMC7758089, DOI: 10.1103/physreve.101.032409.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchThermal fracture kinetics of heterogeneous semiflexible polymers
Lorenzo AM, De La Cruz EM, Koslover EF. Thermal fracture kinetics of heterogeneous semiflexible polymers. Soft Matter 2020, 16: 2017-2024. PMID: 31996875, PMCID: PMC7047574, DOI: 10.1039/c9sm01637f.Peer-Reviewed Original Research
2018
14-3-3 proteins activate Pseudomonas exotoxins-S and -T by chaperoning a hydrophobic surface
Karlberg T, Hornyak P, Pinto AF, Milanova S, Ebrahimi M, Lindberg M, Püllen N, Nordström A, Löverli E, Caraballo R, Wong EV, Näreoja K, Thorsell AG, Elofsson M, De La Cruz EM, Björkegren C, Schüler H. 14-3-3 proteins activate Pseudomonas exotoxins-S and -T by chaperoning a hydrophobic surface. Nature Communications 2018, 9: 3785. PMID: 30224724, PMCID: PMC6141617, DOI: 10.1038/s41467-018-06194-1.Peer-Reviewed Original Research14-3-3 ProteinsADP Ribose TransferasesBacterial ToxinsBinding SitesCrystallography, X-RayEscherichia coliGTPase-Activating ProteinsHost-Pathogen InteractionsHydrophobic and Hydrophilic InteractionsModels, MolecularMolecular ChaperonesProtein ConformationProtein DomainsPseudomonas aeruginosaSaccharomyces cerevisiae
2015
Actin Mechanics and Fragmentation*
De La Cruz EM, Gardel ML. Actin Mechanics and Fragmentation*. Journal Of Biological Chemistry 2015, 290: 17137-17144. PMID: 25957404, PMCID: PMC4498053, DOI: 10.1074/jbc.r115.636472.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH KeywordsActin CytoskeletonActinsAnimalsBiomechanical PhenomenaHumansModels, MolecularProtein Structure, Tertiary
2014
Site-specific cation release drives actin filament severing by vertebrate cofilin
Kang H, Bradley MJ, Cao W, Zhou K, Grintsevich EE, Michelot A, Sindelar CV, Hochstrasser M, De La Cruz EM. Site-specific cation release drives actin filament severing by vertebrate cofilin. Proceedings Of The National Academy Of Sciences Of The United States Of America 2014, 111: 17821-17826. PMID: 25468977, PMCID: PMC4273407, DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1413397111.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsFilament severingActin filamentsActin filament severingKey regulatory functionsConcentration of endsActin filament fragmentationEukaryotic cellsCation-binding sitesProtein cofilinDeletion mutantsS. cerevisiaeSubunit exchangeFilament turnoverActin polymerizationEssential functionsSite-specific interactionsCofilinMolecular mechanismsAssembly dynamicsRegulatory functionsActin moleculesFilament fragmentationFilament structureSustained motilitySeveringMulti-Platform Compatible Software for Analysis of Polymer Bending Mechanics
Graham JS, McCullough BR, Kang H, Elam WA, Cao W, De La Cruz EM. Multi-Platform Compatible Software for Analysis of Polymer Bending Mechanics. PLOS ONE 2014, 9: e94766. PMID: 24740323, PMCID: PMC3989245, DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0094766.Peer-Reviewed Original Research
2013
Alteration in the cavity size adjacent to the active site of RB69 DNA polymerase changes its conformational dynamics
Xia S, Wood M, Bradley MJ, De La Cruz EM, Konigsberg WH. Alteration in the cavity size adjacent to the active site of RB69 DNA polymerase changes its conformational dynamics. Nucleic Acids Research 2013, 41: 9077-9089. PMID: 23921641, PMCID: PMC3799440, DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkt674.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsRB69 DNA polymeraseFörster resonance energy transferDNA polymeraseHigh-resolution X-ray crystallographyResolution X-ray crystallographyHigh mutation rateB-family polConformational dynamicsExonuclease domainState kinetic parametersMutation rateG mutantResonance energy transferX-ray crystallographyM variantPolymerasePrimer terminusHydrophobic cavityActive siteBase selectivitySimilar substitutionSide chainsProfound effectDramatic effectInternal cavityBiophysics of actin filament severing by cofilin
Elam WA, Kang H, De La Cruz EM. Biophysics of actin filament severing by cofilin. FEBS Letters 2013, 587: 1215-1219. PMID: 23395798, PMCID: PMC4079045, DOI: 10.1016/j.febslet.2013.01.062.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMolecular Origins of Cofilin-Linked Changes in Actin Filament Mechanics
Fan J, Saunders MG, Haddadian EJ, Freed KF, De La Cruz EM, Voth GA. Molecular Origins of Cofilin-Linked Changes in Actin Filament Mechanics. Journal Of Molecular Biology 2013, 425: 1225-1240. PMID: 23352932, PMCID: PMC3740545, DOI: 10.1016/j.jmb.2013.01.020.Peer-Reviewed Original Research
2012
Identification of cation-binding sites on actin that drive polymerization and modulate bending stiffness
Kang H, Bradley MJ, McCullough BR, Pierre A, Grintsevich EE, Reisler E, De La Cruz EM. Identification of cation-binding sites on actin that drive polymerization and modulate bending stiffness. Proceedings Of The National Academy Of Sciences Of The United States Of America 2012, 109: 16923-16927. PMID: 23027950, PMCID: PMC3479481, DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1211078109.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsCation-binding sitesActin assemblyEukaryotic biologyLong-pitch helixActin functionSalt-dependent effectsCell divisionCell motilityActin polymerizationFilament assemblyAdjacent subunitsIntracellular transportActin filamentsPhysiological salt concentrationsActin monomersCellular shapeNonspecific ionic strength effectsDiscrete sites
2011
Cofilin-Linked Changes in Actin Filament Flexibility Promote Severing
McCullough BR, Grintsevich EE, Chen CK, Kang H, Hutchison AL, Henn A, Cao W, Suarez C, Martiel JL, Blanchoin L, Reisler E, De La Cruz EM. Cofilin-Linked Changes in Actin Filament Flexibility Promote Severing. Biophysical Journal 2011, 101: 151-159. PMID: 21723825, PMCID: PMC3127193, DOI: 10.1016/j.bpj.2011.05.049.Peer-Reviewed Original Research
2010
Structure-Based Analysis of Toxoplasma gondii Profilin: A Parasite-Specific Motif Is Required for Recognition by Toll-Like Receptor 11
Kucera K, Koblansky AA, Saunders LP, Frederick KB, De La Cruz EM, Ghosh S, Modis Y. Structure-Based Analysis of Toxoplasma gondii Profilin: A Parasite-Specific Motif Is Required for Recognition by Toll-Like Receptor 11. Journal Of Molecular Biology 2010, 403: 616-629. PMID: 20851125, PMCID: PMC2957522, DOI: 10.1016/j.jmb.2010.09.022.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH KeywordsAmino Acid MotifsAmino Acid SequenceAnimalsBase SequenceCrystallography, X-RayDNA PrimersImmunity, InnateIn Vitro TechniquesMacrophages, PeritonealMiceMice, KnockoutModels, MolecularMolecular Sequence DataMutagenesis, Site-DirectedMutant ProteinsPlasmodium falciparumProfilinsProtein Structure, SecondaryProtozoan ProteinsRabbitsRecombinant ProteinsSaccharomyces cerevisiae ProteinsSequence Homology, Amino AcidSignal TransductionStatic ElectricityToll-Like ReceptorsToxoplasmaConceptsAcidic loopToll-like receptor 11Β-hairpinLong β-hairpinApicomplexan parasite Cryptosporidium parvumActin-binding surfaceFilament barbed endsStructure-based analysisYeast profilinGondii profilinProfilin mutantsGliding motilityParasite Cryptosporidium parvumT. gondii profilinNucleotide exchangeToxoplasma gondii profilinRabbit actinPlasmodium falciparum resultsActin polymerizationApicomplexan protozoaHomologous loopBarbed endsHost cellsIL-12 secretionInnate immune responseOrigin of Twist-Bend Coupling in Actin Filaments
De La Cruz EM, Roland J, McCullough BR, Blanchoin L, Martiel JL. Origin of Twist-Bend Coupling in Actin Filaments. Biophysical Journal 2010, 99: 1852-1860. PMID: 20858430, PMCID: PMC2941021, DOI: 10.1016/j.bpj.2010.07.009.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchActin filament remodeling by actin depolymerization factor/cofilin
Pfaendtner J, De La Cruz EM, Voth GA. Actin filament remodeling by actin depolymerization factor/cofilin. Proceedings Of The National Academy Of Sciences Of The United States Of America 2010, 107: 7299-7304. PMID: 20368459, PMCID: PMC2867716, DOI: 10.1073/pnas.0911675107.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsActin depolymerization factorSubunit interactionsCofilin bindingActin filamentsADF/cofilinFactor/cofilinLong-pitch helixHelix monomersNeighboring subunitMolecular basisSevering proteinHydrophobic loopConformational dynamicsSubdomain 1Subdomain 2Loop movesTriggers reorganizationCofilinFilament flexibilityFilamentsNative filamentsDNaseFilament contactsAtom simulationsBinding
2008
Structural and Energetic Analysis of Activation by a Cyclic Nucleotide Binding Domain
Altieri SL, Clayton GM, Silverman WR, Olivares AO, De La Cruz EM, Thomas LR, Morais-Cabral JH. Structural and Energetic Analysis of Activation by a Cyclic Nucleotide Binding Domain. Journal Of Molecular Biology 2008, 381: 655-669. PMID: 18619611, PMCID: PMC2555981, DOI: 10.1016/j.jmb.2008.06.011.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsBinding domainsCyclic Nucleotide Binding DomainLigand bindingC-terminal cyclicNucleotide-dependent proteinNucleotide Binding DomainAbsence of ligandFull-length channelLigand-protein interactionsCNB domainsUseful model systemProkaryotic homologResidue side chainsApo stateDependent ion channelsApo configurationsSingle proteinMlotiK1Domain fragmentNucleotide selectivityIon channelsDomain structureX-ray crystallographyX-ray structureModel systemThe Structural Basis for Activation of the Rab Ypt1p by the TRAPP Membrane-Tethering Complexes
Cai Y, Chin HF, Lazarova D, Menon S, Fu C, Cai H, Sclafani A, Rodgers DW, De La Cruz EM, Ferro-Novick S, Reinisch KM. The Structural Basis for Activation of the Rab Ypt1p by the TRAPP Membrane-Tethering Complexes. Cell 2008, 133: 1202-1213. PMID: 18585354, PMCID: PMC2465810, DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2008.04.049.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchWidely Distributed Residues in Thymosin β4 Are Critical for Actin Binding
Au JK, Olivares AO, Henn A, Cao W, Safer D, De La Cruz EM. Widely Distributed Residues in Thymosin β4 Are Critical for Actin Binding. Biochemistry 2008, 47: 4181-4188. PMID: 18327913, PMCID: PMC2587058, DOI: 10.1021/bi701769u.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsActin Binding AffinityActin bindingProline residuesHydrophobic residuesAlanine residuesLysine residuesPro27Thymosin beta4Actin monomersPro29MutagenesisHydrophobic contactsLeu28Slow association rateResiduesLys19Thymosin β4Ile34Tbeta4Lys18Binding affinitiesTwo-step mechanismAssociation ratePro4Cis-trans isomerization
2007
Contributions from All Over
AU JK, DE LA CRUZ EM, SAFER D. Contributions from All Over. Annals Of The New York Academy Of Sciences 2007, 1112: 38-44. PMID: 17468230, DOI: 10.1196/annals.1415.015.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH KeywordsActinsAnimalsBinding SitesDrug StabilityKineticsModels, MolecularProtein ConformationRabbitsThermodynamicsThymosinConceptsProline residuesActin bindingWild-type complexHydrophobic contactsSite-directed mutagenesisStrong actin bindingHydrophobic residuesAlanine residuesCysteine 374Slow association rateRate of associationResiduesMutantsComplex variesTbeta4Association rateSulfo-1BindingCis-trans isomerizationKinetic basisComplexesPro27Pro29Lys19Mutagenesis
2006
Energetics and Kinetics of Cooperative Cofilin–Actin Filament Interactions
Cao W, Goodarzi JP, De La Cruz EM. Energetics and Kinetics of Cooperative Cofilin–Actin Filament Interactions. Journal Of Molecular Biology 2006, 361: 257-267. PMID: 16843490, DOI: 10.1016/j.jmb.2006.06.019.Peer-Reviewed Original Research
2005
Hydrodynamic Characterization of the DEAD-box RNA Helicase DbpA
Talavera MA, Matthews EE, Eliason WK, Sagi I, Wang J, Henn A, De La Cruz EM. Hydrodynamic Characterization of the DEAD-box RNA Helicase DbpA. Journal Of Molecular Biology 2005, 355: 697-707. PMID: 16325852, DOI: 10.1016/j.jmb.2005.10.058.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH KeywordsAmino Acid MotifsChromatography, GelComputersCross-Linking ReagentsDEAD-box RNA HelicasesElectrophoretic Mobility Shift AssayEscherichia coliEscherichia coli ProteinsModels, BiologicalModels, MolecularProtein Structure, TertiaryRNARNA HelicasesRNA-Binding ProteinsStructural Homology, ProteinConceptsHelicase core domainNucleic acid helicasesCarboxyl-terminal domainAb initio structure prediction methodNucleic acid unwindingHelicase activityRNA metabolismHydrodynamic bead modelingDistinct RNARNA substratesHairpin 92ATP hydrolysisStructural homologyStructure prediction methodsCore domainOligomeric formsAnalytical ultracentrifugationDbpAProtein AMulti-angle laserBead modelingRNASize exclusion chromatographyKey roleFunctional properties