Somerset earthquake: Homes shaken by 3.2 magnitude tremor  BBC News

Aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases (ARSs) play essential roles in protein biosynthesis as well as in other cellular processes, often using evolutionarily acquired domains. For possible cooperativity and synergistic effects, nine ARSs assemble into the multi-tRNA synthetase complex (MSC) with three scaffold proteins: aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase complex-interacting multifunctional proteins 1, 2 and 3 (AIMP1, AIMP2 and AIMP3). X-ray crystallographic methods were implemented in order to determine the structure of a ternary subcomplex of the MSC comprising aspartyl-tRNA synthetase (DRS) and two glutathione S-transferase (GST) domains from AIMP2 and glutamyl-prolyl-tRNA synthetase (AIMP2GST and EPRSGST, respectively). While AIMP2GST and EPRSGST interact via conventional GST heterodimerization, DRS strongly interacts with AIMP2GST via hydrogen bonds between the α7–β9 loop of DRS and the β2–α2 loop of AIMP2GST, where Ser156 of AIMP2GST is essential for the assembly. Structural analyses of DRS–AIMP2GST–EPRSGST reveal its pivotal architecture in the MSC and provide valuable insights into the overall assembly and conditionally required disassembly of the MSC.

Endoplasmic reticulum (ER)-associated degradation (ERAD) is a protein quality-control pathway in eukaryotes in which misfolded ER proteins are polyubiquitylated, extracted and ultimately degraded by the proteasome. This process involves ER membrane-embedded ubiquitin E2 and E3 enzymes, as well as a soluble E2 enzyme (Ubc7 in Saccharomyces cerevisiae and UBE2G2 in mammals). E2-binding regions (E2BRs) that recruit these soluble ERAD E2s to the ER have been identified in humans and S. cerevisiae, and structures of E2–E2BR complexes from both species have been determined. In addition to sequence and structural differences between the human and S. cerevisiae E2BRs, the binding of E2BRs also elicits different biochemical outcomes with respect to E2 charging by E1 and E2 discharge. Here, the Schizosaccharomyces pombe E2BR was identified and purified with Ubc7 to resolve a 1.7 Å resolution co-crystal structure of the E2BR in complex with Ubc7. The S. pombe E2BR binds to the back side of the E2 as an α-helix and, while differences exist, it exhibits greater similarity to the human E2BR. Structure-based sequence alignments reveal differences and conserved elements among these species. Structural comparisons and biochemistry reveal that the S. pombe E2BR presents a steric impediment to E1 binding and inhibits E1-mediated charging, respectively.

Carla Dove is an Ornithologist at the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History. In this Feb. 12 Webcast join her in analyzing the remains of […]

The post Webcast w/ bird detective, Carla Dove appeared first on Smithsonian Insider.

Christian Renz, Veronique Albanese, Vera Tröster, Thomas K. Albert, Olivier Santt, Susan C. Jacobs, Anton Khmelinskii, Sebastien Leon, and Helle D. Ulrich

Polyubiquitin chains linked via lysine (K) 63 play an important role in endocytosis and membrane trafficking. Their primary source is the ubiquitin protein ligase (E3) Rsp5/NEDD4, which acts as a key regulator of membrane protein sorting. The heterodimeric ubiquitin-conjugating enzyme (E2), Ubc13-Mms2, catalyses K63-specific polyubiquitylation in genome maintenance and inflammatory signalling. In budding yeast, the only ubiquitin protein ligase (E3) known to cooperate with Ubc13-Mms2 so far is a nuclear RING finger protein, Rad5, involved in the replication of damaged DNA. We now report a contribution of Ubc13-Mms2 to the sorting of membrane proteins to the yeast vacuole via the multivesicular body (MVB) pathway. In this context, Ubc13-Mms2 cooperates with Pib1, a FYVE-RING finger protein associated with internal membranes. Moreover, we identified a family of membrane-associated FYVE-(type)-RING finger proteins as cognate E3s for Ubc13-Mms2 in several species, and genetic analysis indicates that the contribution of Ubc13-Mms2 to membrane trafficking in budding yeast goes beyond its cooperation with Pib1. Thus, our results widely implicate Ubc13-Mms2 as an Rsp5-independent source of K63-linked polyubiquitin chains in the regulation of membrane protein sorting.

The HSBC Climate Partnership (HCP) is a five-year partnership (2007-2011) between HSBC, The Smithsonian, The Climate Group, Earthwatch Institute and WWF to inspire action on climate change.
Working with these partners and engaging its employees around the world, HSBC hopes to tackle climate change impacts for people, forests, water, and cities. The HCP research of the Smithsonian's Center for Tropical Forest Science (CTFS) focuses on:
• Understanding the role of forests in the global carbon cycle
• Comparing temperate and tropical forests by establishing new plots in the temperate zone
• Quantifying the environmental services provided by tropical forests

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School's nearly back in session, but the seven young lions at the Smithsonian's National Zoo have been working hard through the summer months!

The post Lion cub summer school: Instead of learning their ABCs, the National Zoo’s lion cubs are learning behaviors that will help animal care staff evaluate their health. appeared first on Smithsonian Insider.

On the morning of Monday, Jan. 30, 2017 a 25-pound female bobcat cat was discovered missing from its exhibit at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo in […]

The post Bobcat escapes National Zoo enclosure appeared first on Smithsonian Insider.

Ollie the bobcat, who escaped from her enclosure at the Smithsonian National Zoo, was found two days after her disappearance roaming near the zoo’s bird […]

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Facebook’s digital currency project Libra has unveiled HSBC legal chief...

A new report from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine offers guidance to the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) on how to conduct a hazard assessment of nonpolymeric, additive organohalogen flame retardants (OFRs), which are used in some consumer products.

A new approach to modelling land use change developed at UBC could help cities and towns better coordinate their land-use planning efforts.

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Watford's sensational win over Liverpool has been voted as the Premier League moment of the season so far.

A Utah bobcat named Mr. Murderbritches was captured in 2018 after he was caught eating a farmer's chickens.

Explore.org has affixed several high-definition cameras to locations in Churchill, Manitoba, the 'Polar Bear Capital of the World.'

Tesla Motors is suing the popular BBC series, 'Top Gear,' over a December 2008 episode that raises questions about the range of the Roadster.

This colony of bees is rebuilding in a hollow log in Germany after the hive collapsed earlier this year.

Four astronauts are spending 12 days underwater to prepare new methods for working in outer space. And they're Tweeting about it.

A team of veterinarians use tilapia skin as a healing bandage on their paws.

Plus: Eco-themed shows on the horizon.

Plus: NBC's 'Parenthood' wins green seal.

In response to the rapidly expanding green home building market, the USGBC teams up with Home Depot to launch a database of LEED-qualifying products ranging fro

Organization will provide a one-year membership to the U.S. Green Building Council.

The USGBC has been busy this month including live blogging from Copenhagen, a deal with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, and finalizing video from Green

Five years after Hurricane Katrina and the levee breaks devastated New Orleans, the U.S. Green Building Council looks back at how green building has helped the

Before you make a choice about any webcam equipment, it helps to decide exactly how you want to use the technology.

This article explains what features you should consider when buying software to control your spy webcam. Learn more about webcam surveillance software now.

People expect that you treat their email addresses, personal and other contact details privately. The BCC option provides a sure fire method of not abusing anyones trust and divulging their email address to possible spammers or others to whom it should not be given. This article discusses BCC and it's advantages and disadvantages.

Updated web design highlights 'Tradition of Excellence' over more than 35 years