Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Qiang Lu, Taiyu Chen, Jiening Wang, Feng Wang, Wenlong Ye, Lixin Ma, Shan Wu
Summary: This study presents a cryo-EM structure of an RNA polymerase transcription complex containing a temperature-sensitive bacterial sigma factor, sigma(32) (sigma(32)-RPo). The structure reveals key interactions essential for the assembly of E. coli sigma(32)-RNAP holoenzyme and for promoter recognition and unwinding by sigma(32). These unique structural features advance our understanding of the mechanism of transcription initiation mediated by different sigma factors.
Article
Microbiology
Saumya Gopalkrishnan, Wilma Ross, Madeline S. Akbari, Xintian Li, James R. J. Haycocks, David C. Grainger, Donald L. Court, Richard L. Gourse
Summary: TraR is a distant homolog of the transcription factor DksA and a member of a family of small proteins encoded by proteobacterial phages and conjugative plasmids. Together with DksA, TraR regulates transcription of host promoters without requiring ppGpp.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
M. Zuhaib Qayyum, Vadim Molodtsov, Andrew Renda, Katsuhiko S. Murakami
Summary: In Escherichia coli, the ATPase RapA from the Swi2/Snf2 family has been found to enhance RNAP recycling by binding to RNAP away from the DNA-binding main channel and allosterically closing the RNAP clamp, thereby preventing nonspecific DNA binding and hindering PTC formation. This mechanism allows RapA to act as a guardian of RNAP, enhancing transcription efficiency without affecting the binding of promoter DNA recognition factors.
JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL CHEMISTRY
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Asmaa Abbas, Colin W. Wright, Nagwa El-Sawi, Tapani Yli-Mattila, Anssi M. Malinen
Summary: It was discovered that a methanolic extract of the food additive Zanthoxylum bungeanum can suppress the production of Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) in Aspergillus flavus. The M20 sub-fraction showed high antioxidant activity and potent anti-aflatoxigenic potency. This extract triggers significant changes in secondary metabolite pathways and global regulators, leading to the repression of the AFB1 biosynthesis pathway.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Babette Deckers, Silke Vercauteren, Veerke De Kock, Charlotte Martin, Tamas Lazar, Pauline Herpels, Liselot Dewachter, Natalie Verstraeten, Eveline Peeters, Steven Ballet, Jan Michiels, Christian Galicia, Wim Versees
Summary: This study identifies the DNA-binding protein YbiB as an interactor of the bacterial protein ObgE. The study also reveals the binding site between the C-terminal domain of ObgE and the positively charged groove on the surface of YbiB. Additionally, ObgE competes with DNA for binding to YbiB, indicating its role in the cellular processes involving YbiB.
NUCLEIC ACIDS RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Weitong Qin, Liang Li, Fan Yang, Siyuan Wang, Guang-Yu Yang
Summary: In vitro transcription (IVT) is a crucial technique for RNA synthesis, but traditional methods for monitoring IVT are time-consuming and costly. We developed a new method called STAR that allows for fast, inexpensive, and real-time detection of in vitro RNA synthesis. STAR can also be used to detect the activity of T7 RNA polymerase and optimize gene transcription regions. This method may prove to be an important tool for biotechnical applications related to the transcription process.
BIORESOURCES AND BIOPROCESSING
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Marc G. Chevrette, Chris S. Thomas, Amanda Hurley, Natalia Rosario-Melendez, Kris Sankaran, Yixing Tu, Austin Hall, Shruthi Magesh, Jo Handelsman
Summary: Bacterial secondary metabolites play important roles in microbial communities, but little is known about their roles and regulation in multispecies communities. In a simplified model of the rhizosphere, researchers found that the dynamics of secondary metabolism depend on community species composition and interspecies interactions.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2022)
Article
Oncology
Phyllis S. Y. Chong, Jing Yuan Chooi, Julia S. L. Lim, Sabrina Hui Min Toh, Tuan Zea Tan, Wee-Joo Chng
Summary: The study highlights the crucial role of NSD2 in t(4;14) multiple myeloma, revealing a novel, SWI/SNF-independent interaction between NSD2 and SMARCA2 for chromatin remodeling and transcriptional regulation of oncogenes. Targeting the bromodomain of SMARCA2 with BET inhibitor PFI-3 disrupts the NSD2-SMARCA2 complex, inhibiting the viability of t(4;14) myeloma cells and reducing tumor growth in vivo, suggesting a potential therapeutic strategy for this type of cancer.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Darren M. Driscoll, Hongjun Liu, Benjamin Reinhart, Ilja Popovs, Vera Bocharova, Santa Jansone-Popova, De-en Jiang, Alexander S. Ivanov
Summary: This study investigates the role of counterions in molecular recognition of lanthanides in rare-earth element separations. The presence of noncoordinating anions leads to a unique coordination sphere structure and self-assembly of the complexes into larger nanoclusters through electrostatic interactions.
JOURNAL OF PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY LETTERS
(2022)
Article
Plant Sciences
Peng Jiao, Tongyu Liu, Chunli Zhao, Jianbo Fei, Shuyan Guan, Yiyong Ma
Summary: Maize is an important food crop that provides feed and raw materials. The ZmTCP14 gene, a transcription factor in maize, was found to play a role in regulating plant response to drought stress and affecting drought resistance by regulating ROS accumulation in plants.
ENVIRONMENTAL AND EXPERIMENTAL BOTANY
(2023)
Editorial Material
Plant Sciences
Ruyi Wang, Xiao Xu, Guo-Liang Wang, Yuese Ning
Summary: Dysfunction of susceptibility genes can lead to plant resistance to broad-spectrum resistance (BSR). A rice ubiquitin E3 ligase degrades the ortholog of a plant thermosensor to positively regulate blast resistance. Recent research also shows that this E3 ligase ubiquitinates a Ca2+ sensor to mediate rice BSR, expanding our understanding of susceptibility protein ubiquitination for plant BSR.
TRENDS IN PLANT SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Qiaoxia Zhou, Libo Yan, Baofu Xu, Xue'er Wang, Xuehong Sun, Ning Han, Hong Tang, Feijun Huang
Summary: This study identified Pin1 as an interactor that binds to the transactivation domain of HBx, suggesting its potential association with HBx function in HBV replication. The interaction between Pin1 and HBx was confirmed by various assays, and inhibition of Pin1 expression led to decreased HBsAg and HBeAg levels in HepG2.2.15 cells. Additionally, inhibition of Pin1 expression impeded replicated restoration of HBx-deficient HBV in HepG2 cells repaired by ectopic HBx expression.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2021)
Article
Immunology
Natacha Lobos Patorniti, Khalisah Liyana Zulkefli, Martin E. McAdam, Pablo Vargas, Oddmund Bakke, Cinzia Progida
Summary: Invariant chain (Ii, CD74) is a glycoprotein contributing to various functions of antigen-presenting cells by facilitating the folding and transport of MHC II chains. Retinoic Acid-Induced 14 (Rai14), a poorly characterized protein involved in actin cytoskeleton and membrane remodeling, was identified as a putative interaction partner of Ii. Rai14 was found to regulate both macropinocytosis and cell migration, similar to Ii, and the interaction between Rai14 and myosin II suggests their coordination in these processes.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Microbiology
Lidiya P. Dubytska, Ranjan Koirala, Azhia Sanchez, Ronald Thune
Summary: The T3SS effector EseN of E. ictaluri plays an important role in modulating host immune responses to infection. It activates extracellular signal-regulated kinases early in the infection, which are subsequently inactivated by EseN. EseN is involved in the regulation of immune response pathways and the expression of transcription factors, leading to modulation of proinflammatory cytokines and COX-2 expression.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Dong-Min Gao, Ji-Hui Qiao, Qiang Gao, Jiawen Zhang, Ying Zang, Liang Xie, Yan Zhang, Ying Wang, Jingyan Fu, Hua Zhang, Chenggui Han, Xian-Bing Wang
Summary: This study reveals that the barley yellow striate mosaic virus infects the central nervous system of its insect vector, leading to hyperactivity and prolonged feeding duration. The virus's accessory protein P6 interacts with a specific subunit of the insect vector, inhibiting the degradation of the circadian clock protein Timeless. Furthermore, expression of P6 in fruit flies disrupts circadian rhythm and induces high locomotor activity.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Maciej Dylewski, Monika Cwiklinska, Katarzyna Potrykus
ACTA BIOCHIMICA POLONICA
(2018)
Article
Microbiology
Michal Sobala, Bozena Bruhn-Olszewska, Michael Cashel, Katarzyna Potrykus
FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY
(2019)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Maciej Dylewski, Llorenc Fernandez-Coll, Bozena Bruhn-Olszewska, Carlos Balsalobre, Katarzyna Potrykus
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2019)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Sabina Kedzierska-Mieszkowska, Katarzyna Potrykus, Zbigniew Arent, Joanna Krajewska
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2019)
Article
Cell Biology
Stefan Tukaj, Jagoda Mantej, Michal Sobala, Katarzyna Potrykus, Krzysztof Sitko
CELL STRESS & CHAPERONES
(2020)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Llorenc Fernandez-Coll, Katarzyna Potrykus, Michael Cashel, Carlos Balsalobre
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2020)
Article
Microbiology
Katarzyna Potrykus, Nathan E. Thomas, Bozena Bruhn-Olszewska, Michal Sobala, Maciej Dylewski, Tamara James, Michael Cashel
FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY
(2020)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Barbara Kedzierska, Katarzyna Potrykus, Agnieszka Szalewska-Palasz, Beata Wodzikowska
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2020)
Article
Immunology
Stefan Tukaj, Jagoda Mantej, Michal Sobala, Katarzyna Potrykus, Zbigniew Tukaj, Detlef Zillikens, Ralf J. Ludwig, Katja Bieber, Michael Kasperkiewicz
Summary: The study found that Hsp70 immunization and anti-Hsp70 antibody treatment can decrease disease severity in a psoriasis-like skin inflammation mouse model by affecting T cell populations. This suggests that Hsp70 may be a promising therapeutic target for psoriasis and other autoimmune dermatoses.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2021)
Editorial Material
Microbiology
Katarzyna Potrykus, Michael Cashel, Gert Bange
FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Grzegorz M. Cech, Agnieszka Szalewska-Palasz, Katarzyna Potrykus, Anna Kloska
Summary: The development of P1vir is enhanced in the dksA mutant due to improvements in replication, virion assembly, and less efficient lysis, as shown by RNA sequencing analysis.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Grzegorz M. Cech, Anna Kloska, Klaudyna Krause, Katarzyna Potrykus, Michael Cashel, Agnieszka Szalewska-Palasz
Summary: The deficiency in the host cell DksA protein improves the lytic development of Bacteriophage P1 by enhancing adsorption, DNA replication, and downregulating key gene expressions. Nucleotide substitutions in the phage immunity region may also contribute to the virulence of the phage.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Barbara Kedzierska, Katarzyna Potrykus
Summary: The study identified the presence of a mini-gene within the Axe-txe system that influences translation of the Txe toxin, representing the first example of such a regulatory mechanism in TA modules. Translation of the two-codon mini-ORF was found to positively affect Txe expression, possibly through increasing mRNA stability. The regulatory mechanism may also be applicable to other TA systems, suggesting a potential broader impact beyond the Axe-txe cassette.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Anna Kloska, Grzegorz M. Cech, Dariusz Nowicki, Monika Maciag-Dorszynska, Aleksandra E. Bogucka, Stephanie Markert, Doerte Becher, Katarzyna Potrykus, Paulina Czaplewska, Agnieszka Szalewska-Palasz
Summary: This study investigates the molecular adaptation mechanisms of marine bacteria to osmotic stress, focusing on adjustment at the proteome level. The results show that bacteria adjust at all levels of their biological processes in response to salinity challenges. The accumulation of DNA-binding proteins and increased polyamine uptake are suggested to play a role in protecting the nucleoid against changes in DNA topology.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Monika Karczewska, Patryk Strzelecki, Krystyna Bogucka, Katarzyna Potrykus, Agnieszka Szalewska-Palasz, Dariusz Nowicki
Summary: Urinary tract infections are common bacterial diseases worldwide, with UPECs being the most prominent group among the pathogens responsible. In this study, we examined 118 UPEC isolates to determine their genetic background, antibiotic resistance, and their ability to form biofilms and induce stress responses. Our findings showed that these UPEC strains expressed unique attributes and had a significant ability to form biofilms and accumulate multi-resistance traits, which were crucial for the development of severe infections in a Galleria mellonella model.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2023)