Joao Medeiros Silva

Figuring how proteins work in their native state, using super-fancy solid-state Nuclear Magnetic Resonance

PD @MeiHongLab @MIT
PhD @MarkusWeingarth @UniUtrecht

[Joao Medeiros Silva @JMSism]

So proud of this team🤩
This is massive: mode of action of the newest antibiotic Teixobactin was just reported at the highest detail, both for receptor-antibiotic and resulting supramolecular assembly. Both kill!

This might be game-changing for fighting those pesky Superbugs

[Markus Weingarth @MarkusWeingarth]

#Teixobactin, isolated from 'unculturable' bacteria, is considered the first new 💊#antibiotic💊 in 30 years. But how does it kill bacteria?

We show teixobactin uses a new mechanism that involves a double attack on the cell envelope
Out @Nature
https://t.co/391CtcSy4K
#NMR 1/n

[Markus Weingarth @MarkusWeingarth]

I have 3 PhD and 3 postdoc positions available at Utrecht University, all in the context of ‘solid-state #NMR & drug discovery (#antibiotics: small molecules & peptides)’

Starting date is flexible.

Please see here:
https://t.co/uaUmzev1Pd

#Postdoc #PhD

[J. Am. Chem. Soc. @J_A_C_S]

Polar Networks Mediate Ion Conduction of the SARS-CoV-2 Envelope Protein | Journal of the American Chemical Society @ChemistryMIT @MIT @nmr900 High Resolution Structure E Transmembrane Domain SARS Cov2 https://t.co/lrGWohd4js

[MeiHongLab @MeiHongLab]

Check out our new NMR study of how a dynamic polar network in the SARS-CoV-2 E protein mediates proton and calcium ion binding! https://t.co/nRsXt9kvpI

[Markus Weingarth @MarkusWeingarth]

🔥Hot off the press⬇️⬇️⬇️ in @NatureMicrobiol

https://t.co/kTuxzjSDnI

Plectasin is a complex peptide 💊 #antibiotic, isolated from funghi.

We show that plectasin uses a new Calcium-dependent supramolecular mechanism to ensnare its target on the membrane surface.

1/4
#NMR

[Joao Medeiros Silva @JMSism]

and they were saying I can't see a total solar eclipse from the Azores. 😎

[Joao Medeiros Silva @JMSism]

Such a noble initiative promoted by Native Scientists, thanks for enabling this science class for children in my hometown!
School dropout in my region is ~25%, we desperately need initiatives like these that keeps kids interested in school and motivates them to seek knowledge

[Native Scientists @NativeScientis1]

Da @NYUScience à Figueira da Foz e do @MIT aos Açores! Os cientistas Sílvia Curado e João Silva trouxeram a ciência de volta a casa, inspirando 75 crianças com os maravilhosos mundos da biologia e da química

🙏🏼Muito obrigada pelo apoio @FundlaCaixa e @FLAD_PT

[Joao Medeiros Silva @JMSism]

by the @MeiHongLab :)

[Joao Medeiros Silva @JMSism]

We distinguish α- from 310-helices using a 3D hCOhNH, a straightforward 1H-detected ssNMR experiment. The obtained CO(i-n)NH(i) signal intensity patterns give a signature of the helix type.

https://t.co/QbZWTQ6vS0

[Joao Medeiros Silva @JMSism]

Although we didn't get a chance to test β-sheets, the hCOhNH inter-residue signal profile should also distinguish the parallel vs anti-parallel motifs

[Joao Medeiros Silva @JMSism]

Subtle but important difference: α-/310-helix are not the same! 310-helices are often hard to distinguish due to higher dynamics, hence lower resolution. This is why 310- may grant functional properties; they're plastic. Here's an NMR approach to distinguish α-, 310- and π, helix

[Joao Medeiros Silva @JMSism]

@AldinoViegas venham mais 9 000

[Joao Medeiros Silva @JMSism]

@MaulideLab Good memories, my mom had one at home too, but the handle was slightly different

[Joao Medeiros Silva @JMSism]

Image credit to @MIT @ChemistryMIT

[Joao Medeiros Silva @JMSism]

Here's what the open E viroporin from SARS-CoV-2 looks like! A cone-shaped barrel with a wide N-opening, narrow C-opening, a phenylalanine belt, and a hydrophobic gate. The structure elucidates how this viroporin work and sets a drug target for the potential treatment of COVID-19

[Joao Medeiros Silva @JMSism]

This viroporin is intriguing: the pore is narrow and mostly hydrophobic, impeding the passage of ions. The polar sidechains at the C-term opening may lower the energy barrier for water to cross the gate. Hence, this channel's C-term is wide when closed but narrow when open!

[Markus Weingarth @MarkusWeingarth]

We report the discovery & mechanism of #Clovibactin, an #antibiotic from unculturable bacteria!

⬇️⬇️ @CellCellPress ⬇️⬇️
💊 https://t.co/TSfzcQNHXy

Clovibactin uses a 'hydrophobic cage' motif to target the cell wall and kill without detectable resistance

@UniUtrecht
1/n

[Mohammed Kaplan @MMMKaplan_]

A postdoc position is available in my lab at UChicago to work on various aspects of (bacterial) cell biology using cryo-ET. Please feel free to contact me directly at [email protected]. Re-tweeting and spreading the word is highly appreciated. Thank you!

[Joao Medeiros Silva @JMSism]

Thinking why the heck US academic conferences tend to take place during weekends... it's ridiculus imo

[Joao Medeiros Silva @JMSism]

Never imagined mammalian cell line cross-contamination was such a big deal, thanks @SciShow

https://t.co/DPX5lK3og5