PLOS BiologyNov 1, 2024
Previous #cryoEM of #synucleinopathy α-synuclein fibrils revealed a ‘mystery density’ at the protofilament core. @jakob_lab &co now show that it's #polyphosphate, which binds a lysine-rich pocket & helps stabilize the fiber #ParkinsonsDisease #PLOSBiology https://plos.io/3YP7Gdf
Amyloid accelerator polyphosphate fits as the mystery density in α-synuclein fibrils

Previous cryo-EM structures of synucleinopathy patient-derived α-synuclein fibrils revealed a ‘mystery density’ at the core of the protofilaments. This study identifies polyphosphate as this density, which binds a lysine-rich pocket and contributes to fiber stabilization.

CellBioNewsDec 7, 2023

A possible way for early #life on #Earth to survive cosmic #radiation.

#evolution #polyphosphate #manganese #coacervates

https://phys.org/news/2023-12-early-life-earth-survive-cosmic.html

A possible way for early life on Earth to survive cosmic radiation

A team of biophysicists affiliated with several institutions in China has uncovered via experimentation the means by which early life might have been able to survive cosmic radiation. In their study, reported in the journal Nature Communications, the group conducted experiments with radiation-resistant manganese antioxidants.

Phys.org
The EMBO JournalApr 18, 2023
#CryoEM #structure of the #polyphosphate #polymerase #CryoEM reveals coupling of polymer synthesis to membrane transit

https://www.embopress.org/doi/10.15252/embj.2022113320