Article
Environmental Sciences
Simiao Sun, Xiaoxu Fan, Yuhan Feng, Xiaohui Wang, Hongsheng Gao, Fuqiang Song
Summary: Phytoremediation using Cannabis sativa L. inoculated with Rhizophagus irregularis is an environmentally friendly and cost-effective approach for cadmium contaminated soil remediation. The mycorrhizal fungi enhance the tolerance of C. sativa to heavy metals and modify the Cd chemical forms by altering the composition of low molecular weight organic acids.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Rong Wang, Yantong Liu, Sheng Xu, Jie Li, Jiayu Zhou, Ren Wang
Summary: The study identified an ABC transporter LaABCB11 from Lycoris aurea that functions in the transport of lycorine, potentially playing a role in the translocation and accumulation of lycorine from leaves and bulbs to roots. The transporter increased yeast cells' tolerance to lycorine and reduced lycorine accumulation in transformants compared to control or mutant yeast. LaABCB11 was found to be associated with the plasma membrane and mainly expressed in the phloem of leaves and bulbs, as well as in the cortical cells of roots.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Takashi Shimomura, Norio Hirakawa, Yuya Ohuchi, Munetaka Ishiyama, Masanobu Shiga, Yuichiro Ueno
Summary: A method to measure xCT activity using selenocysteine and FOdA reaction has been developed in this study, which can evaluate the cystine uptake activity of xCT in different cells and the inhibitory efficiency of xCT inhibitors.
Article
Microbiology
Linlin Cao, Nan Li, Yingshan Dong, Xiao-Yan Yang, Jiajia Liu, Qing-Yu He, Ruiguang Ge, Xuesong Sun
Summary: The SPD_0090 gene in Streptococcus pneumoniae plays an important role in bacterial growth, invasion, adhesion, and regulation of virulence.
FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Microbiology
Andrey A. Khozov, Dmitrii M. Bubnov, Eugeny D. Plisov, Tatiana V. Vybornaya, Tigran V. Yuzbashev, Gennaro Agrimi, Eugenia Messina, Agnessa A. Stepanova, Maxim D. Kudina, Natalia V. Alekseeva, Alexander I. Netrusov, Sergey P. Sineoky
Summary: We identified and characterized the yifK gene product as a novel amino acid carrier in E. coli K-12 cells. YifK acts as a permease specific to L-threonine and, to a lesser extent, L-serine. We also found that BrnQ is involved in threonine uptake as a low-affinity but high-flux transporter and that it becomes the main entry point when threonine reaches toxic levels. LIV-I contributes significantly to threonine uptake but has minor involvement in serine uptake.
FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Microbiology
Fei Yan, Sheng Dong, Ya-Jun Liu, Xingzhe Yao, Chao Chen, Yan Xiao, Edward A. Bayer, Yuval Shoham, Chun You, Qiu Cui, Yingang Feng
Summary: This study clarifies the function and mechanism of substrate specificity of the five putative sugar transporters in Clostridium thermocellum. The results showed that transporter B is the major cellodextrin transporter, while transporter A is the major glucose transporter. The missing ATPase gene of transporter B was identified, and the correlation between transporter B and cellulosome production was revealed. Understanding the mechanism of cellodextrin utilization in C. thermocellum will facilitate the engineering of this strain for industrial applications.
Article
Microbiology
Rodger de Miranda, Bonnie J. Cuthbert, Thais Klevorn, Alex Chao, Jessica Mendoza, Mark Arbing, Paul J. Sieminski, Kadamba Papavinasasundaram, Sumer Abdul-Hafiz, Sum Chan, Christopher M. Sassetti, Sabine Ehrt, Celia W. Goulding
Summary: This study investigated the pathways of host iron acquisition in Mtb and confirmed the role of FecB in the siderophore-dependent iron and heme acquisition pathways, as well as the role of FecB2 in heme uptake.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Ying Li, Xizhen Ge
Summary: This study investigates the impact of internal ionic interactions on the antibiotic resistance of E. coli by studying a representative MFS efflux pump called MdfA. The researchers found that extending the salt bridge on the cytoplasmic side of MdfA resulted in elevated antibiotic resistance, which was further enhanced by combining it with an artificial mutation. By analyzing molecular dynamics simulations, they discovered that enhanced interactions led to a larger surface for MdfA's protonation, indicating a higher possibility for its activation.
PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY CHEMICAL PHYSICS
(2022)
Article
Immunology
Marina L. Zupan, Zhenyao Luo, Katherine Ganio, Victoria G. Pederick, Stephanie L. Neville, Evelyne Deplazes, Bostjan Kobe, Christopher A. McDevitt
Summary: The pathogen Streptococcus pneumoniae acquires essential zinc ions from the host through the proteins AdcA and AdcAII, which is crucial for infection. AdcAII plays a larger role during initial infection, and the Zn(II)-coordinating residues are found to be important for metal binding. Through structural and biochemical analyses, it was shown that specific conformational changes in AdcAII are necessary for effective metal uptake.
FRONTIERS IN CELLULAR AND INFECTION MICROBIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Haibei Li, Xinmei Li, Tianjiao Chen, Zhongwei Yang, Danyang Shi, Jing Yin, Dong Yang, Shuqing Zhou, Junwen Li, Min Jin
Summary: This study found that certain antidepressants can induce bacterial resistance to disinfectants and activate certain genes to increase bacterial efflux of disinfectants, thereby increasing resistance. This provides novel insights into the potential source of water-borne disinfectant-resistant pathogens.
JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Dongyan Feng, Guorui Zhong, Qingxia Zuo, Yanbin Wan, Wanqing Xu, Changsheng He, Cailing Lin, Dongchao Huang, Feng Chen, Lizhen Huang
Summary: The relationship between drugs and transporters is crucial in drug development. This study utilized the CRISPR/Cas9 technology to knockout the P-gp, BCRP, and MRP2 genes in Caco-2 cells, resulting in stable KO Caco-2 subclones. These subclones provide more reliable and detailed data, contributing to efficient in vitro drug transport research.
FRONTIERS IN PHARMACOLOGY
(2022)
Review
Cell Biology
Derrick R. Samuelson, Sabah Haq, Daren L. Knoell
Summary: Manganese and zinc are essential micronutrients that play a crucial role in regulating host immune response against infections. The metal transporter ZIP8 plays a key role in metal uptake and affects host defense mechanisms. Perturbations in metal homeostasis may impact the composition of bacterial communities in the host. Therefore, understanding the importance of zinc and manganese uptake is important for the development of intervention strategies against infectious diseases.
FRONTIERS IN CELL AND DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Yaolei Mi, Xue Cao, Xuewen Zhu, Weiqiang Chen, Xiangxiao Meng, Huihua Wan, Wei Sun, Sifan Wang, Shilin Chen
Summary: This study identified and characterized 113 ABC transporters in C. sativa, and proposed seven core transporters that may participate in cannabinoid transport. These candidate genes showed high correlation with cannabinoid biosynthetic pathway genes and content, and were highly expressed in cannabinoid biosynthesis and accumulation sites.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL MACROMOLECULES
(2023)
Article
Agronomy
Xingzhe Cai, Meng Wang, Yucong Jiang, Changhu Wang, David W. Ow
Summary: This study identified the ABC transporter gene OsABCG48 as having a role in regulating cadmium accumulation in rice roots. Overexpression of OsABCG48 increased cadmium tolerance in plants, reduced root cadmium accumulation, and promoted lateral root development. These findings suggest that OsABCG48 has potential applications for engineering low-cadmium rice varieties.
Review
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Erkka Jarvinen, Feng Deng, Wilma Kiander, Alli Sinokki, Heidi Kidron, Noora Sjostedt
Summary: Glucuronidation and sulfation are common phase II metabolic reactions of drugs, resulting in inactive and safe conjugates. However, these conjugates may be the most prominent drug-related substances in human circulation and excreta. Understanding the active transport of these metabolites is crucial for predicting drug fate and ensuring safety.
FRONTIERS IN PHARMACOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Yuki Yoshikawa, Ryo Nasuno, Hiroshi Takagi
Summary: The study found that yeast cells lacking NADPH exhibited increased tolerance to oxidative and nitrosative stress. This was primarily due to the upregulation of Ctt1 expression in ZWF1-deficient cells, enhancing their antioxidant capacity.
Article
Microbiology
Akira Nishimura, Yurie Takasaki, Shota Isogai, Yoichi Toyokawa, Ryoya Tanahashi, Hiroshi Takagi
Summary: This study identified a yeast mutant with high levels of intracellular proline due to a missense mutation in the PRO1 gene. They proposed a potential mechanism for the feedback inhibition of gamma-glutamyl kinase activity, which could be applied to develop proline-accumulating yeast strains for the effective utilization of distillation residues.
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Shota Isogai, Akira Nishimura, Atsushi Kotaka, Naoyuki Murakami, Natsuki Hotta, Hiroki Ishida, Hiroshi Takagi
Summary: The study found that a yeast strain with a specific mutation can lead to the accumulation of isoleucine, resulting in increased production of 2-methyl-1-butanol. This discovery is valuable for engineering yeast strains to enhance the production of isoleucine and its derived fusel alcohols.
APPLIED AND ENVIRONMENTAL MICROBIOLOGY
(2022)
Review
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Yoichi Toyokawa, Jirasin Koonthongkaew, Hiroshi Takagi
Summary: BCAT catalyzes transamination between BCAAs and BCKAs in the cell. Eukaryotic cells have mitochondrial BCAT (BCATm) and cytosolic BCAT (BCATc) isozymes, which have similar enzymatic functions but differences in physiological functions and regulatory mechanisms. The variations of BCAT could have significant implications for research into the relationship between their primary structures and protein functions.
APPLIED MICROBIOLOGY AND BIOTECHNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Akira Nishimura, Shota Isogai, Naoyuki Murakami, Natsuki Hotta, Atsushi Kotaka, Kengo Matsumura, Yoji Hata, Hiroki Ishida, Hiroshi Takagi
Summary: The research identified a sake yeast mutant that accumulates phenylalanine and decreases 2-phenylethanol production, which may lead to the creation of unique new sake varieties.
JOURNAL OF INDUSTRIAL MICROBIOLOGY & BIOTECHNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Microbiology
Masataka Ohashi, Shota Isogai, Hiroshi Takagi
Summary: This study revealed the crucial role of key residues in the formation of the arginine-binding cavity for arginine recognition of NAGK. Additionally, novel arginine feedback inhibition-insensitive variants of NAGK in sake yeast mutants with ornithine overproduction were analyzed, suggesting that amino acid substitutions in the NAGK variants destabilize the arginine-binding cavity, leading to lower sensitivity to arginine feedback inhibition of NAGK activity.
MICROBIOLOGY SPECTRUM
(2022)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Jirasin Koonthongkaew, Nontawat Ploysongsri, Yoichi Toyokawa, Vithaya Ruangpornvisuti, Hiroshi Takagi
Summary: In this study, we successfully increased the production of branched-chain higher alcohols (BCHAs) by designing variants of Bat1 and Bat2 with altered enzyme activity. Our results showed that these engineered BCATs decreased catalytic activities and increased BCHA production. This study provides new insights into the functions of BCATs and has practical applications in the future construction of enzymes for high-level BCHAs production.
APPLIED AND ENVIRONMENTAL MICROBIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Ryoya Tanahashi, Akira Nishimura, Fumika Morita, Hayate Nakazawa, Atsuki Taniguchi, Kazuki Ichikawa, Kazuki Nakagami, Kyria Boundy-Mills, Hiroshi Takagi
Summary: Proline, the most abundant amino acid in wine and beer, is hardly assimilated by Saccharomyces cerevisiae during fermentation. The study found that arginine, ornithine, and lysine inhibit proline utilization by inducing endocytosis of the proline transporter Put4, while citrulline does not. By genetic screening, it was revealed that the arginine transporter Can1 is involved in the arginine-dependent inhibition of proline utilization. Further biochemical analyses showed that Can1 activates signaling cascades of protein kinase A in response to extracellular arginine, suggesting its role as a transceptor regulating proline utilization.
Editorial Material
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Andriy A. Sibirny, Terrance G. Cooper, Hiroshi Takagi
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Shota Isogai, Akira Nishimura, Naoyuki Murakami, Natsuki Hotta, Atsushi Kotaka, Yoichi Toyokawa, Hiroki Ishida, Hiroshi Takagi
Summary: This study identified a valine-accumulating sake yeast mutant and found a novel amino acid substitution. The mutant yeast accumulated valine and produced more isobutanol. This research provides insights for brewing distinctive Japanese sake by increasing the production of valine-derived compounds.
FEMS YEAST RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Akira Nishimura, Ryoya Tanahashi, Tomoki Oi, Kyoyuki Kan, Hiroshi Takagi
Summary: The current CRISPR/Cas9 systems in Saccharomyces cerevisiae cannot be considered non-genetic modification technology due to the need for plasmid expression systems. However, our study demonstrates that editing the yeast genome can be achieved without plasmid expression systems, using a commercially available protein transfection reagent and chemically modified sgRNAs.
BIOSCIENCE BIOTECHNOLOGY AND BIOCHEMISTRY
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Ryoya Tanahashi, Akira Nishimura, Minh Nguyen, Irnayuli Sitepu, Glen Fox, Kyria Boundy-Mills, Hiroshi Takagi
Summary: Proline contributes to taste and flavor of foods. Saccharomyces cerevisiae poorly assimilates proline during fermentation, resulting in its accumulation in fermented products. Our screening of 1138 yeasts revealed that Zygoascus, Galactomyces, and Magnusiomyces genera are better at utilizing proline.
BIOSCIENCE BIOTECHNOLOGY AND BIOCHEMISTRY
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Masatoshi Tsukahara, Shota Isogai, Haruna Azuma, Keiko Tsukahara, Yoichi Toyokawa, Hiroshi Takagi
Summary: A new strain of yeast, Saccharomyces cerevisiae 35a14, was isolated from banana stems in Okinawa. This strain did not belong to any industrial yeast groups and had high alcohol production. Furthermore, a mutant derived from 35a14, which overproduces l-leucine, resulted in a high concentration of isoamyl acetate when used in brewing awamori, an Okinawa's traditional distilled alcoholic beverage.
BIOSCIENCE BIOTECHNOLOGY AND BIOCHEMISTRY
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Akira Nishimura, Kazuki Nakagami, Kyoyuki Kan, Fumika Morita, Hiroshi Takagi
Summary: This study elucidated the inhibitory effect of arginine on yeast biofilm formation and its underlying mechanism, providing insights into the molecular mechanism and control of yeast biofilm formation.
BIOSCIENCE BIOTECHNOLOGY AND BIOCHEMISTRY
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Akira Nishimura, Kazuki Ichikawa, Hayate Nakazawa, Ryoya Tanahashi, Fumika Morita, Irnayuli Sitepu, Kyria Boundy-Mills, Glen Fox, Hiroshi Takagi
Summary: This study clarifies the inhibitory mechanism of proline utilization in yeast during wine-making processes, revealing the involvement of glucose response and the Ras/PKA pathway. The research indicates the existence of crosstalk between carbon and proline metabolisms and provides valuable insights and directions for developing wine yeast strains that can efficiently assimilate proline.
BIOSCIENCE BIOTECHNOLOGY AND BIOCHEMISTRY
(2022)