@article {2014|1598,
	title = {A predicted binding site for cholesterol on the GABAA receptor.},
	journal = {Biophys. J.},
	volume = {106},
	number = {9},
	year = {2014},
	month = {may},
	pages = {1938{\textendash}1949},
	publisher = {Department of Physics, Rutgers University-Camden, Camden, New Jersey; Center for Computational and Integrative Biology, Rutgers University-Camden, Camden, New Jersey. Electronic address: Grace.Brannigan@rutgers.edu.},
	abstract = {Modulation of the GABA type A receptor (GABAAR) function by cholesterol and other steroids is documented at the functional level, yet its structural basis is largely unknown. Current data on structurally related modulators suggest that cholesterol binds to subunit interfaces between transmembrane domains of the GABAAR. We construct homology models of a human GABAAR based on the structure of the glutamate-gated chloride channel GluCl of Caenorhabditis elegans. The models show the possibility of previously unreported disulfide bridges linking the M1 and M3 transmembrane helices in the α and γ subunits. We discuss the biological relevance of such disulfide bridges. Using our models, we investigate cholesterol binding to intersubunit cavities of the GABAAR transmembrane domain. We find that very similar binding modes are predicted independently by three approaches: analogy with ivermectin in the GluCl crystal structure, automated docking by AutoDock, and spontaneous rebinding events in unbiased molecular dynamics simulations. Taken together, the models and atomistic simulations suggest a somewhat flexible binding mode, with several possible orientations. Finally, we explore the possibility that cholesterol promotes pore opening through a wedge mechanism.},
	keywords = {Amino Acid, Binding Sites, Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins, chemistry, chemistry/metabolism, Chloride Channels, Cholesterol, GABA-A, Humans, Hydrogen Bonding, Ivermectin, metabolism, Molecular Docking Simulation, Molecular Dynamics Simulation, Porosity, Protein Binding, Protein Conformation, Receptors, Sequence Homology, Substrate Specificity},
	doi = {10.1016/j.bpj.2014.03.024},
	author = {J{\'e}r{\^o}me H{\'e}nin and Salari, Reza and Murlidaran, Sruthi and Grace Brannigan}
}
@article {2014|1645,
	title = {Type VI secretion and bacteriophage tail tubes share a common assembly pathway.},
	journal = {Embo Rep.},
	volume = {15},
	year = {2014},
	month = {mar},
	pages = {315{\textendash}21},
	abstract = {<p>The Type VI secretion system (T6SS) is a widespread macromolecular structure that delivers protein effectors to both eukaryotic and prokaryotic recipient cells. The current model describes the T6SS as an inverted phage tail composed of a sheath-like structure wrapped around a tube assembled by stacked Hcp hexamers. Although recent progress has been made to understand T6SS sheath assembly and dynamics, there is no evidence that Hcp forms tubes in vivo. Here we show that Hcp interacts with TssB, a component of the T6SS sheath. Using a cysteine substitution approach, we demonstrate that Hcp hexamers assemble tubes in an ordered manner with a head-to-tail stacking that are used as a scaffold for polymerization of the TssB/C sheath-like structure. Finally, we show that VgrG but not TssB/C controls the proper assembly of the Hcp tubular structure. These results highlight the conservation in the assembly mechanisms between the T6SS and the bacteriophage tail tube/sheath.</p>},
	keywords = {Amino Acid Sequence, Bacterial Secretion Systems, Escherichia coli, Escherichia coli Proteins, Molecular Sequence Data, Protein Binding, Protein Multimerization, Protein Structure, Tertiary, Virulence Factors},
	issn = {1469-3178},
	doi = {10.1002/embr.201337936},
	author = {Brunet, Yannick R and J{\'e}r{\^o}me H{\'e}nin and Celia, Herv{\'e} and Cascales, Eric}
}
