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Three Nature Communication Papers from Dr. Hinck’s group!

Dr. Hinck’s group recently published three paper in Nature Communications, all in the same week!

Structures of TGF-β with betaglycan and signaling receptors reveal mechanisms of complex assembly and signaling, 2025 Feb 26;16(1):1778. doi: 10.1038/s41467-025-56796-9. In this paper, Dr. Hinck’s lab used an integrated structural biology approach, including NMR spectroscopy, X-ray crystallography, and Cryo-EM to determine the long-awaited structure, of TGF-beta bound to it essential co-receptor, betaglycan. In this work, Dr. Hinck collaborated with two other MBSB faculty members, Dr. Jonathan Coleman and Dr. Rieko Ishima, as well as Dr. Caroline Hill at the Francis Crick Institute in London and Dr. Dan Bernard at McGill University in Montréal. The work in this paper was spearheaded by Łukasz Wieteska, a postdoctoral fellow in the Hinck laboratory from 2019-2023 and provides insight into the mechanism by which the co-receptor betaglycan potentiates assembly of the TGF-beta receptor signaling complex. 

TGM6 is a helminth secretory product that mimics TGF-β binding to TGFBR2 to antagonize signaling in fibroblasts, 2025 Feb 21;16(1):1847. doi: 10.1038/s41467-025-56954-z.  In this paper, Dr. Hinck’s lab used NMR spectroscopy and X-ray crystallization to characterize a secreted protein from the intestinal helminth, Heligmosomoides polygyrus, known as TGF-b mimic 6 (TGM6). In this work, TGM6 was shown to structurally mimic TGF-b to bind the TGF-beta type II receptor, thus enabling its potent antagonistic activity, which is important for minimizing fibrotic damage to the host.  This study was spearheaded by a former MBSB graduate student in Hinck’s group, Dr. Stephen White; another current MBSB graduate student, Tristin Schwartze, also contributed to this work.

Design of high-affinity binders to immune modulating receptors for cancer immunotherapy, 2025 Feb 26;16(1):2001. doi: 10.1038/s41467-025-57192-z.  In this paper, Dr. Hinck’s laboratory collaborated with Dr. David Baker’s lab at the University of Washington, to develop and structurally characterize small designed proteins that effectively bind convex targets, including the TGF-beta type II receptor, TGFBR2. In this study, a current MBSB graduate student in Hinck’s group, Tristin A. Schwartze, contributed to the paper.

Check them out!

Please check the faculty website;

https://www.hincklab.structbio.pitt.edu/

By MBSB

20241106 

Tristin Schwartze, a student in the MBSB Program, successfully defended his thesis on November 6th to complete his Ph.D. The title of his presentation and thesis is “Molecular basis of interchain disulfide-bond formation in BMP-9 and BMP-10”. Tristin performed this research under the supervision of Prof. Andrew Hinck in the Department of Structural Biology at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine. Bone Morphogenetic Proteins, BMP9 and BMP10, are secreted proteins essential for regulating the proper development of vascular networks, thus understanding how they are synthesized and is important developing therapies for vascular diseases, such as Hereditary Hemorrhagic Telangiectasia (HHT), which are caused by mutations in the non-redundant receptors that mediate BMP9/10 signaling. Tristin mainly presented about the dimerization mechanisms of these proteins.

Congratulations, Tristin!

Please check the student and faculty websites;

https://www.hincklab.structbio.pitt.edu/

http://www.mbsb.pitt.edu/index.php/site-map/articles/85-students/274-tristin-schwartze

By MBSB

Matthew Martin, an MBSB student, has co-authored a study published in Nature Structural & Molecular Biology.  Martin's contribution to this study underscores his commitment to advancing molecular biology research.

https://www.nature.com/articles/s41594-024-01430-3

Congratulations, Matthew!

20240912 

Incoming MBSB students attended the welcome ceremony hosted by Graduate Studies at University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, on September 5th. Dr. Saleem Khan, Associate Dean for Graduate studies and Academic Affairs, opened the ceremony and welcomed the students. The attendees listened to a variety of presentations, with a key speech focusing on “Biomedical research and the mission of our medical school” delivered by Dr. Anantha Shekhar, Dean of the School of Medicine. The students received University jackets, and finally recited “A Scientist’s Oath”.

Welcome to MBSB!!

https://www.mbsb.pitt.edu/

By MBSB.