Article
Microbiology
Antonio Llop, Lorena Tremino, Raquel Cantos, Asuncion Contreras
Summary: Cyanobacteria must adapt their metabolic processes to environmental challenges, and the PipX protein plays a key role in regulating oxygenic photosynthesis and nitrogen assimilation. Mutational and structural analyses have identified specific amino acid changes that decrease or abolish the toxicity of PipX.
Article
Microbiology
Carmen Jerez, Paloma Salinas, Antonio Llop, Raquel Cantos, Javier Espinosa, Jose I. Labella, Asuncion Contreras
Summary: Cyanobacteria adapt their metabolic processes to environmental challenges by using a unique regulatory protein, PipX, which links signals of carbon/nitrogen and energy to gene expression control. PipX interacts with the essential ribosome assembly GTPase EngA at low temperatures, interfering with its functions in Synechococcus elongatus. This work expands the understanding of the PipX interaction network and suggests a possible connection between nitrogen regulation and the translation machinery.
FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Kai Wang, Xiaozhen Mou, Huansheng Cao, Ian Struewing, Joel Allen, Jingrang Lu
Summary: CyanoHABs in Harsha Lake shifted from N2 fixer-dominated Anabaena to non-N2 fixer-dominated Microcystis and Planktothrix as nitrogen supply decreased. The concentrations of cyanotoxins were significantly higher when nitrogen became limited. Water quality results indicated significant correlations between nitrogen species, water temperature, and cyanobacterial biomass. Additionally, the expression levels of certain C- and N-processing-related cyanobacterial genes were highly predictive of species biomass.
ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION
(2021)
Article
Biology
Bin Li, Minshik Jo, Jianxin Liu, Jiayi Tian, Robert Canfield, Jennifer Bridwell-Rabb
Summary: The DNA binding and H2O2 sensing mechanisms of a transcriptional regulator called RexT found in cyanobacteria have been revealed. RexT uses disulfide bond formation as a trigger to bind and release DNA and has a winged-helix-turn-helix fold to respond to H2O2. The study also identifies the entrance channel for H2O2 and key residues involved in H2O2 activation. Additionally, it is discovered that the vicinal disulfide redox switch is a unique feature of cyanobacteria in the Nostocales order.
COMMUNICATIONS BIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Plant Sciences
Xin Liu, Kathrin Rousk
Summary: The moss hydration rate is a key trait that explains variation in N-2 fixation and cyanobacterial colonization. Moss species with smaller leaves and higher leaf frequency have higher cyanobacterial abundance. High phenol concentration inhibits N-2 fixation but not colonization.
Article
Biochemical Research Methods
Yuki Ogawa, Yohei Katsuyama, Yasuo Ohnishi
Summary: This study applied deep mutational scanning to alter the ligand specificity of the transcriptional regulator XylS and identified the importance of the G71 residue. The results demonstrate the potential of deep mutational scanning in engineering ligand specificity of transcriptional regulators without full structural information.
ACS SYNTHETIC BIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Microbiology
Antonio Llop, Jose I. Labella, Marina Borisova, Karl Forchhammer, Khaled A. Selim, Asuncion Contreras
Summary: The cyanobacterial protein PipY belongs to the PLP-binding proteins family and is involved in the homeostasis of vitamin B-6 vitamers and amino/keto acids. It is connected with PipX in the cyanobacteria genomic context and involved in signaling the intracellular energy status and carbon-to-nitrogen balance. While the function of PipY is still uncertain, preliminary data suggests its involvement in signaling pathways related to the stringent stress response.
FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Microbiology
Aurelie Joublin-Delavat, Katia Touahri, Pauline Cretin, Amandine Morot, Sophie Rodrigues, Bruno Jesus, Florian Trigodet, Francois Delavat
Summary: Nitrogen fixation by marine non-cyanobacterial diazotrophs (NCD) plays a crucial role in primary production in oceans. The ecophysiology of NCD has been elusive due to limited isolates and lack of genetic tools. This study used a dual genetic and functional approach to uncover the ecophysiology of a marine NCD, Vibrio diazotrophicus. The mutant analysis revealed the importance of the NCD gene, nifH, for growth in nitrogen-free media. The study also found that V. diazotrophicus produces biofilm as an adaptive response to cope with the inhibition of nitrogen fixation by molecular oxygen. Interestingly, the genomic signature of V. diazotrophicus is largely absent from metagenomic data of Tara Ocean expeditions, despite its isolation from various marine environments.
ENVIRONMENTAL MICROBIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Aimin Hao, Mengyao Su, Sohei Kobayashi, Min Zhao, Yasushi Iseri
Summary: Bamboo extract can inhibit the growth of Microcystis aeruginosa while having little effect on other algal strains. In co-culture, bamboo extract enhances the growth of competing algae, such as Scenedesmus obliquus and Nitzschia palea, and suppresses the growth of M. aeruginosa. Bamboo forests and installed bamboo poles can affect the aquatic environment and control cyanobacterial blooms.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2022)
Article
Microbiology
Paul Bolay, Rokhsareh Rozbeh, M. Isabel Muro-Pastor, Stefan Timm, Martin Hagemann, Francisco J. Florencio, Karl Forchhammer, Stephan Klaehn
Summary: Cyanobacteria have unique regulatory mechanisms to control metabolic processes, exemplified by small proteins like PirA regulating nitrogen flux. The interaction between PirA and P-II impacts arginine synthesis, suggesting potential applications in metabolic engineering for biotechnological purposes.
Review
Microbiology
Kendra A. Turk-Kubo, Mary R. Gradoville, Shunyan Cheung, Francisco M. Cornejo-Castillo, Katie J. Harding, Michael Morando, Matthew Mills, Jonathan P. Zehr
Summary: This review paper provides a comprehensive understanding of the biology, ecology, and biogeography of marine non-cyanobacterial diazotrophs (NCDs) through the synthesis of multiple datasets. The authors discuss recent advances in studying the diversity, distribution, and ecophysiology of NCDs, as well as their significance to the nitrogen cycle in well-lit oxygenated euphotic waters.
FEMS MICROBIOLOGY REVIEWS
(2023)
Editorial Material
Plant Sciences
Johan Quilbe, Jean-Francois Arrighi
Summary: Legumes have the ability to form root nodules with nitrogen-fixing rhizobial bacteria, overcoming nitrogen limitation and ensuring ecological and agronomic success. Recent research has identified key genes related to nodulation in cultivated peanut through genetic approaches.
JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL BOTANY
(2021)
Article
Biology
Jonas Kollmen, Dorina Strieth
Summary: Cyanobacteria have a wide range of applications in industry as phototrophic prokaryotes. In recent decades, their use as biofertilizers to replace artificial fertilizers has emerged. Apart from fixing nitrogen, cyanobacteria produce secondary metabolites that benefit plants, promoting growth and increasing resistance to diseases and stress. Cyanobacteria form symbiotic relationships with plants, benefiting both parties and improving soil conditions. This review summarizes the beneficial effects of cyanobacterial co-cultivation on plants and discusses possible applications.
Article
Agronomy
Long Qian, Jingshang Xiao, Zulin Zhang, Lie Yang, Ling Xia, Maria E. Farias, Rosa Maria Torres, Li Wu
Summary: The study investigates the effect of nitrogen deposition on biocrusts, specifically on the abundance and composition of exopolysaccharides (EPSs) in the biocrusts. Nitrate-N showed no obvious effect on the cyanobacterial biomass, while ammonia-N and urea-N decreased cyanobacterial biomass and shifted bacterial communities. Additionally, higher nitrogen levels reduced EPSs content and changed the proportion of rhamnose and fucose in EPSs.
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Daniel A. Norena-Caro, Cristal Zuniga, Amber J. Pete, Sven A. Saemundsson, Morgan R. Donaldson, Alexandria J. Adams, Kerry M. Dooley, Karsten Zengler, Michael G. Benton
Summary: Filamentous cyanobacteria like Anabaena possess a sustainable platform for commodity and specialty chemical production. The metabolic network of Anabaena has been studied for the production of nitrogen-containing metabolites with potential applications in various industries. A genome-scale metabolic model has been used to predict phycocyanobilin and amino-acid production rates, identifying specific amino acids as potential precursors for secondary metabolites.
BIOCHEMICAL ENGINEERING JOURNAL
(2021)
Article
Microbiology
Javier Espinosa, Jose I. Labella, Raquel Cantos, Asuncion Contreras
ENVIRONMENTAL MICROBIOLOGY
(2018)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Raquel Cantos, Jose I. Labella, Javier Espinosa, Asuncion Contreras
ENVIRONMENTAL MICROBIOLOGY REPORTS
(2019)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Jose I. Labella, Antonio Llop, Asuncion Contreras
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Khaled A. Selim, Lorena Tremino, Clara Marco-Marin, Vikram Alva, Javier Espinosa, Asuncion Contreras, Marcus D. Hartmann, Karl Forchhammer, Vicente Rubio
Summary: CutA proteins are widely distributed across different life domains. Structural studies show that cyanobacterial CutA proteins, similar to their E. coli counterparts and canonical PII proteins, exist as trimers but do not exhibit binding affinity for small signaling molecules or for Cu(2+). This suggests a conserved binding/signaling function for CutA, with a potential role in protecting E. coli from Cu2+ toxicity.
Review
Biology
Jose I. Labella, Raquel Cantos, Paloma Salinas, Javier Espinosa, Asuncion Contreras
Article
Microbiology
Carmen Jerez, Paloma Salinas, Antonio Llop, Raquel Cantos, Javier Espinosa, Jose I. Labella, Asuncion Contreras
Summary: Cyanobacteria adapt their metabolic processes to environmental challenges by using a unique regulatory protein, PipX, which links signals of carbon/nitrogen and energy to gene expression control. PipX interacts with the essential ribosome assembly GTPase EngA at low temperatures, interfering with its functions in Synechococcus elongatus. This work expands the understanding of the PipX interaction network and suggests a possible connection between nitrogen regulation and the translation machinery.
FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY
(2021)
Review
Biology
Lorena Tremino, Antonio Llop, Vicente Rubio, Asuncion Contreras
Summary: The PLPBP family plays a regulatory role in maintaining the homeostasis of vitamin B-6 and amino/keto acids. Perturbation of metabolites and phenotypic changes have been observed after inactivating PLPBP genes. The high level of structural and functional characterization of PipY provides an opportunity to study the roles of PLPBP in cyanobacteria.
Article
Microbiology
Antonio Llop, Jose I. Labella, Marina Borisova, Karl Forchhammer, Khaled A. Selim, Asuncion Contreras
Summary: The cyanobacterial protein PipY belongs to the PLP-binding proteins family and is involved in the homeostasis of vitamin B-6 vitamers and amino/keto acids. It is connected with PipX in the cyanobacteria genomic context and involved in signaling the intracellular energy status and carbon-to-nitrogen balance. While the function of PipY is still uncertain, preliminary data suggests its involvement in signaling pathways related to the stringent stress response.
FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY
(2023)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Alicia Forcada-Nadal, Jose Luis Llacer, Asuncion Contreras, Clara Marco-Marin, Vicente Rubio
FRONTIERS IN MOLECULAR BIOSCIENCES
(2018)
Meeting Abstract
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
A. Forcada-Nadal, J. L. Llacer, M. Palomino-Schatzlein, J. L. Neira, A. Pineda-Lucena, A. Contreras, V. Rubio