Paola Picotti

Abstract Mitochondrial dysfunction and accumulation of α-synuclein aggregates are hallmarks of the neurodegenerative Parkinson’s disease and may be interconnected. To investigate the interplay between α-synuclein and brain mitochondria at near atomic structural level, we apply NMR and identify α-synuclein protein interactors using limited proteolysis-coupled mass spectrometry (LiP-MS).

Abstract Although the connection between COVID-19 and coagulopathy has been clear since the beginning of SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, the underlying molecular mechanisms remain elusive. Available data support that the hyper-coagulant state is sustained by systemic inflammation. Here we show that the SARS-CoV-2 main protease (Mpro) can play a direct role in the activation of coagulation. Adding Mpro to human plasma increased clotting probability by 3-fold.

Dear Editor, Connexins (Cxs) assemble as hexameric hemichannels (HCs) that reach the cellular surface and dock with their counterparts on the neighboring cells, forming the gap junction channels (GJCs) and coupling cells metabolically and electrically. Pancreatic Cx36 plays a crucial role in insulin secretion1, whereas in the brain Cx36 is involved in neuronal synchronization2.