Structural basis of vilazodone dual binding mode to the serotonin transporter - Nature Communications The serotonin transporter (SERT) is a key antidepressant target. Here, authors present a cryo-EM structure where the antidepressant vilazodone spans the main SERT binding site toward a secondary ...

Yay! Our findings on the antidepressant drug vilazodone binding to the serotonin transporter (SERT) are out! We used cryo-electron microscopy and other advanced biophysics to provide data suggesting two high affinity binding poses.

www.nature.com/articles/s41...

Faculty and academic positions – University of Copenhagen

Looking for a Post doc position in Structural Biology? We are hiring!
See post here:
jobbank.dk/job/2850337/...

The task is to continue our endeavor in solving cryo-EM structures of the human dopamine transporter. See: doi.org/10.1038/s415...
Thanks to the Novo Nordisk Foundation for funding.

A huge congrats to Jeppe Nielsen who defended his PhD thesis with excellence! An outstanding accomplishment! Thanks to profs. Harald Sitte, @poulnissen.bsky.social and Petrine Wellendorph for an inspiring assessment.

📢 ONE MONTH TO GO: Chemical Solutions to Structural Biology Symposium!

Join us at CSSB 2025, a premier two-day international symposium at UCPH exploring groundbreaking chemical and structural biology solutions.

📅 June 12-13, 2025

Registration closes May 30 🔗 isbuc.ku.dk/chemical-sol...

A shout out to Kristine Salomon, who now can call herself Dr Salomon after a brilliant PhD defense. Having two papers in Nature, one in @pnas.org, one in @naturecomms.bsky.social and two others, must be a pass. So well deserved. Thanks to Profs Ryan, Drew and Strømgaard for assessment.

We are organizing this symposium on structural biology in beautiful Copenhagen. Checkout the impressive lineup!

@iriskalen.bsky.social defended her PhD with excellence and can now call herself Dr Iris. Thanks to the assessment committee: Simon Newstead, @bjornppedersen.bsky.social and Nanna MacAulay

Done :-). Welcome

Squeeze pumping of lipids and insecticides by ABCH transporter High-resolution cryo-EM structures and biochemical data reveal the dynamic process by which the ABCH transporter binds and transports lipid substrates and insecticides across cell membranes while detoxifying insecticides, providing atomic-level insights for the development of arthropod pest control agents and strategies for managing pesticide resistance.

Squeeze pumping of lipids and insecticides by ABCH transporter
www.cell.com/cell/abstrac...

Trapping of spermine, Kukoamine A, and polyamine toxin blockers in GluK2 kainate receptor channels - Nature Communications Kainate receptors (KARs) contribute to excitatory neurotransmission, neuronal plasticity and neurological disorders. Here, Gangwar et al. present KAR structures in complex with channel blockers NpTx8,...

Trapping of spermine, Kukoamine A and polyamine toxin blockers in GluK2 kainate receptor channels.
www.nature.com/articles/s41...

Molecular insights into the activation mechanism of GPR156 in maintaining auditory function
www.nature.com/articles/s41...

Results from the Vardanyan Lab describe how K+ ions partially dehydrate to pass the narrow construction site in the KCNQ1 channels and why mutations in this site are clinically relevant for patients with long QT syndrome.
www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...

Cannabinoid inhibition of mechanosensitive K+ channels | bioRxiv

biorxiv.org/content/10.110…

Cartoon representations of the fast inactivation process in WT Naᵥ channel and CW mutant. Liu and Bezanilla show that a sodium channel mutant removes fast inactivation with the inactivation particle bound.
rupress.org/jgp/article/...

Native DGC structure rationalizes muscular dystrophy-causing mutations - Nature The detailed structure of the native dystrophin–glycoprotein complex provides mechanistic insights into mutations underlying muscular dystrophy.

native cryo-EM structure of the Dystrophin-Glycoprotein Complex (DGC)
www.nature.com/articles/s41...

Congrats to the Taylor group for this impressive accomplishment!
www.nature.com/articles/s41...

Ion coupling and inhibitory mechanisms of the human presynaptic high-affinity choline transporter CHT1 | Structure

cell.com/structure/full…

Ion coupling and inhibitory mechanisms of the human presynaptic high-affinity choline transporter CHT1 Qiu et al. report the cryo-EM structures of the human high-affinity choline transporter 1 (CHT1) with bound inhibitors, the substrate choline, and a substrate-free state. These structures reveal the binding modes of inhibitors with different chemical structures and shed light on the ion-coupled substrate transport mechanism of CHT1.

An other impressive structure from Yan Zhao’s group. Here the human choline transporter CHT1
www.cell.com/structure/ab...

Architecture of the high-affinity immunoglobulin E receptor Structural analysis reveals species-specific differences in how the antibody IgE binds to its receptor FcεRI.

By solving the cryo-EM structures of human and mouse FcεRI bound to IgE-Fc, Zhang et al. found species-specific differences in interactions between IgE and the extracellular domains of the receptors.
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...

GABAA receptor π forms channels that stimulate ERK through a G-protein-dependent pathway GABAA receptor π (GABRP) can form homopentameric channel-like structures, similar to the more common heteromeric type-A GABA receptor channels. However, GABRP activation by GABA uniquely induces a G-protein-signaling pathway rather than allowing chloride passage. Selective inhibition of GABRP signaling may hold therapeutic promise for GABRP-associated cancers.

Cryo-EM of GABRP reveals a clear GABA-induced transition controlling channel pore size
www.cell.com/molecular-ce...

Substrate translocation and inhibition in human dicarboxylate transporter NaDC3 Nature Structural & Molecular Biology - The authors show cryo-electron microscopy structures of the human high-affinity sodium–dicarboxylate cotransporter, responsible for dicarboxylate...

Mindell and Wang Labs use cryo-EM and biochemical assays, to establish the structural basis of the anionic substrate specificity of NaDC3, to elucidate its conformational changes from outward facing to inward facing and to understand the mechanisms of its inhibition. Cool stuff!
rdcu.be/d2Upe

Structural insights into the force-transducing mechanism of a motor-stator complex important for bacterial outer membrane lipid homeostasis
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...

Insights into the distinct membrane targeting mechanisms of WDR91 family proteins Proteins from the WDR91 family control phosphoinositide conversion required for endosome maturation. By combining structural, biochemical, and cellular data, Ma et al. provide evidence that two representative members of this family WDR91 and SORF1 either use the Rab7-binding WD40 domain or an amphipathic helix for membrane targeting.

www.cell.com/structure/fu...

De novo variants in LRRC8C resulting in constitutive channel activation cause a human multisystem disorder | The EMBO Journal imageimageVolume-regulated ion channels (VRACs) open in response to hypotonic stress and protect against excessive cell swelling and bursting. This study describes two patient variants in a VRAC subunit that cause a severe pleiotropic disorder ...

Description of two unrelated individuals who have the same undescribed congenital pleiotropic disorder, and who carry unique monoallelic variants of the LRRC8C gene.
www.embopress.org/doi/full/10....

Done. Welcome 🤗

Done 😀👍

Done 👍

Hi Ute. Can I be part of this one too?

Done! Welcome 😀

Structure-guided design of a peripherally restricted chemogenetic system Kang et al. present HCAD, a peripherally restricted DREADD based on HCA2, with a chemical actuator that avoids crossing the blood-brain barrier and selectively reduces pain in mice. This system will enable the study of peripheral physiology without affecting the central nervous system.

From Bryan Roth’s lab: Structure-guided design of a peripherally restricted chemogenetic system. Out in Cell
www.cell.com/cell/abstrac...