Pavel Afanasyev

Oct 15, 2024 | nature.com | Takashi Nagata |Pavel Afanasyev |Ishita Das |Xavier Deupi |Akihisa Terakita |Matthew Rodrigues

AbstractOpsins are G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) that have evolved to detect light stimuli and initiate intracellular signaling cascades. Their role as signal transducers is critical to light perception across the animal kingdom. Opsins covalently bind to the chromophore 11-cis retinal, which isomerizes to the all-trans isomer upon photon absorption, causing conformational changes that result in receptor activation.

Jun 25, 2024 | biorxiv.org | Bastien Casu |Joseph W. Sallmen |Peter Haas |Pavel Afanasyev

AbstractBacterial contractile injection systems (CIS) are phage tail-like macromolecular complexes that mediate cell-cell interactions by injecting effector proteins into target cells. CISSc from Streptomyces coelicolor are distinct because they induce regulated cell death under stress, impacting the organism's life cycle. It remains unknown whether CISSc require accessory proteins to function.