Polyribosomes of circular topology are prevalent in mammalian cells.

Polyribosomes, the groups of ribosomes simultaneously translating a single mRNA molecule, are very common in both, prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells. Even in early EM studies, polyribosomes have been shown to possess various spatial conformations, including a ring-shaped configuration which was considered to be functionally important. However, a recent in situ cryo-ET analysis of predominant regular inter-ribosome contacts did not confirm the abundance of ring-shaped polyribosomes in a cell cytoplasm. To address this discrepancy, here we analyzed the cryo-ET structure of polyribosomes in diluted lysates of HeLa cells. It was shown that the vast majority of the ribosomes were combined into polysomes and were proven to be translationally active. Tomogram analysis revealed that circular polyribosomes are indeed very common in the cytoplasm, but they mostly possess pseudo-regular structures without specific inter-ribosomal contacts. Although the size of polyribosomes varied widely, most circular polysomes were relatively small in size (4-8 ribosomes). Our results confirm the recent data that it is cellular mRNAs with short ORF that most commonly form circular structures providing an enhancement of translation.

Development of Submicrocapsules Based on Co-Assembled Like-Charged Silica Nanoparticles and Detonation Nanodiamonds and Polyelectrolyte Layers.

Capsules with shells based on nanoparticles of different nature co-assembled at the interface of liquid phases of emulsion are promising carriers of lipophilic drugs. To obtain such capsules, theoretically using the Derjaguin-Landau-Verwey-Overbeek (DLVO) theory and experimentally using dynamic light-scattering (DLS) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) methods, the interaction of like-charged silica nanoparticles and detonation nanodiamonds in an aqueous solution was studied and their ratios selected for the formation of submicron-sized colloidosomes. The resulting colloidosomes were modified with additional layers of nanoparticles and polyelectrolytes, applying LbL technology. As a model anti-cancer drug, thymoquinone was loaded into the developed capsules, demonstrating a significant delay of the release as a result of colloidosome surface modification. Fluorescence flow cytometry and confocal laser scanning microscopy showed efficient internalization of the capsules by MCF7 cancer cells. The obtained results demonstrated a high potential for nanomedicine application in the field of the drug-delivery system development.

Green nanocomposite gels based on binary network of sodium alginate and percolating halloysite clay nanotubes for 3D printing.

Alginate hydrogels with embedded rigid percolating network of halloysite clay nanotubes were evaluated as a novel ink for 3D printing. Hydrophilic alginate macromolecules adsorbing on halloysite stabilize the network of the nanotubes and form their own network of interlaced polymer chains. The effect of halloysite content on the structure and properties of the hydrogels was studied by rheometry, thermogravimetric analysis, FTIR-spectroscopy, dynamic light scattering, transmission electron microscopy, and 3D cryo-electron microscopy. Hydrogels demonstrate a very pronounced shear-thinning at extrusion and rather quick viscosity recovery after extrusion assigned to rapid rearrangement of the network structure promoted by mobile alginate chains. Even at low volume fractions (up to 0.054) the nanotubes reinforce the hydrogel increasing its storage modulus up to 650 Pa and inducing the appearance of yield stress. These properties make the alginate/halloysite hydrogels promising for the application in 3D printing for fabrication of green and sustainable nanocomposite materials made from natural components.

3D structure of the natural tetrameric form of human butyrylcholinesterase as revealed by cryoEM, SAXS and MD.

Human plasma butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) is an endogenous bioscavenger that hydrolyzes numerous medicamentous and poisonous esters and scavenges potent organophosphorus nerve agents. BChE is thus a marker for the diagnosis of OP poisoning. It is also considered a therapeutic target against Alzheimer's disease. Although the X-ray structure of a partially deglycosylated monomer of human BChE was solved 15 years ago, all attempts to determine the 3D structure of the natural full-length glycosylated tetrameric human BChE have been unsuccessful so far. Here, a combination of three complementary structural methods-single-particle cryo-electron microscopy, molecular dynamics and small-angle X-ray scattering-were implemented to elucidate the overall structural and spatial organization of the natural tetrameric human plasma BChE. A 7.6 ŠcryoEM map clearly shows the major features of the enzyme: a dimer of dimers with a nonplanar monomer arrangement, in which the interconnecting super helix complex PRAD-(WAT)4-peptide C-terminal tail is located in the center of the tetramer, nearly perpendicular to its plane, and is plunged deep between the four subunits. Molecular dynamics simulations allowed optimization of the geometry of the molecule and reconstruction of the structural features invisible in the cryoEM density, i.e., glycan chains and glycan interdimer contact areas, as well as intermonomer disulfide bridges at the C-terminal tail. Finally, SAXS data were used to confirm the consistency of the obtained model with the experimental data. The tetramer organization of BChE is unique in that the four subunits are joined at their C-termini through noncovalent contacts with a short polyproline-rich peptide. This tetramer structure could serve as a model for the design of highly stable glycosylated tetramers.