: Chemistry Articles
Editorial: The bottom lineEnhanced funding support and increased engagement of chemical biologists in the funding process are essential for the advancement of the field. Nature Chemical Biology, vol. 4 #9, pp509-509 |
Commentary: Chemical biology at the US National Science FoundationChemical biology continues to grow and blur the theoretical and empirical boundaries between chemistry and biology. Federal funding agencies, including the US National Science Foundation, will be essential to support the development of interdisciplinary research fields. Nature Chemical Biology, vol. 4 #9, pp511-514 |
Commentary: Chemical biology in China takes on signal transductionFunding support for chemical biology is essential for its growth around the world. A new funding initiative from the National Natural Science Foundation of China provides a model of a targeted funding program in the area of signal transduction. Nature Chemical Biology, vol. 4 #9, pp515-518 |
Commentary: Foundation funding and chemical biologyAn emerging generation of scientists trained at the interface of chemistry and biology is providing new tools and insights into the workings of biological systems. Private foundations represent an important funding option for scientists at this interface. Nature Chemical Biology, vol. 4 #9, pp519-522 |
News and Views: From yeast to alkaloidsAlkaloids, which include caffeine and morphine, are a large class of pharmacologically active plant compounds that are often difficult to chemically synthesize. Incorporation of benzylisoquinoline alkaloid pathways in yeast will facilitate the production of natural and non-natural alkaloids. Nature Chemical Biology, vol. 4 #9, pp524-525 |
News and Views: Unexpected N-terminal editing: a cysteine protease that cuts and pastesN-terminal modification is a mechanism for regulation of protein activity, localization and degradation. A proteomic approach using β-lactone activity-based probes has identified a cysteine protease with N-terminal transpeptidase activity. Nature Chemical Biology, vol. 4 #9, pp525-526 |
News and Views: Cross-dressing proteins by olefin metathesisChemists have established numerous methods for performing protein conjugations, but metathesis catalysts have largely remained absent from this toolkit. Evidence that proteins bearing allylsulfides undergo cross-metathesis with chosen alkenes in aqueous conditions will allow chemists to harness the power of metathesis catalysts for modifying biomolecules and other water-soluble compounds. Nature Chemical Biology, vol. 4 #9, pp527-528 |
News and Views: 20S ways to apoptosisChemical inhibitors of the proteasome have received substantial attention owing to the success of bortezomib in the treatment of multiple myeloma. A recent whole-cell screen identified the proteasome inhibitor argyrin A and suggests a new role for p27Kip-1 in regulating apoptosis. Nature Chemical Biology, vol. 4 #9, pp528-529 |
News and Views: Chloroplast SRP takes another roadThe signal recognition particle (SRP), a ribonucleoprotein complex that is conserved across all organisms, is essential for cotranslational insertion of proteins into membranes. A three-dimensional structure of cpSRP43 provides insights into how plants have adapted the SRP for post-translational targeting of membrane proteins. Nature Chemical Biology, vol. 4 #9, pp529-531 |