Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Pietro Ridone, Daniel L. Winter, Matthew A. B. Baker
Summary: This study focused on the role of the central MotB dimer in the bacterial flagellar motor and used modeling and energy calculations to identify stable states. The findings provide insights into the stability hierarchy and coordinated rotation of the MotB dimer.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Tatsuro Nishikino, Norihiro Takekawa, Duy Phuoc Tran, Jun-ichi Kishikawa, Mika Hirose, Sakura Onoe, Seiji Kojima, Michio Homma, Akio Kitao, Takayuki Kato, Katsumi Imada
Summary: Motile bacteria swim towards favorable environments using a rotating flagellum driven by a motor. The motor consists of a rotor and a stator, with the torque generated by the interaction between the rotor and the stator induced by ion flow. Recent cryo-EM studies on the stators from mesophiles revealed their composition, while low-resolution EM analysis showed that hyperthermophilic MotA forms a tetramer. The cryo-EM structure of MotA from the hyperthermophilic bacterium Aquifex aeolicus (Aa-MotA) was determined, showing it forms a pentamer and can assemble into a stator complex without MotB. The hydrophobic nature of MotA is crucial for stabilizing hyperthermophilic Aa-MotA.
BIOCHEMICAL AND BIOPHYSICAL RESEARCH COMMUNICATIONS
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Haidai Hu, Philipp F. Popp, Monica Santiveri, Aritz Roa-Eguiara, Yumeng Yan, Freddie J. O. Martin, Zheyi Liu, Navish Wadhwa, Yong Wang, Marc Erhardt, Nicholas M. I. Taylor
Summary: In this study, the structure of Vibrio PomAB was determined by cryo-electron microscopy, revealing sodium binding sites, and a mechanism for ion translocation and selectivity was proposed through functional experiments and molecular dynamics simulations. The involvement of a dynamic helical motif in PomA was suggested to regulate the distance between PomA subunit cytoplasmic domains, stator unit activation, and torque transmission. Overall, this study provides mechanistic insights into ion selectivity and rotor incorporation of the stator unit of the bacterial flagellum.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Jyot D. Antani, Rachit Gupta, Annie H. Lee, Kathy Y. Rhee, Michael D. Manson, Pushkar P. Lele
Summary: The bacterial flagellar motor is able to adapt its switching between clockwise and counterclockwise rotation in response to changes in mechanical load by controlling the binding affinity of the chemotaxis response regulator, CheY-P. This allows the motor to maintain optimal function in environments of varying viscosities. The interplay between mechanical forces and CheY-P binding tunes the chemotactic function to match the load, resembling proprioceptive feedback in neuromuscular systems.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2021)
Article
Microbiology
Tsai-Shun Lin, Seiji Kojima, Hajime Fukuoka, Akihiko Ishijima, Michio Homma, Chien-Jung Lo
Summary: The bacterial flagellar motor (BFM) is a large membrane-spanning molecular rotary machine that adjusts the number of stator units to compensate for changes in external load and ion-motive force to maintain constant speed over a wide range of sodium concentrations. When rapidly transitioning from high to low sodium concentrations, the number of functional stator units experiences a rapid excessive reduction followed by resurrection, implying the presence of a metastable hidden state during the sudden loss of sodium ions.
FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY
(2021)
Review
Microbiology
Xiaotian Zhou, Anna Roujeinikova
Summary: Recent studies have shown the presence of additional periplasmic structures in polar flagellar motors, such as disk or cage-like morphologies, which are crucial for motor assembly and function. These structures enable polar flagellar motors to sustain higher torque and achieve faster swimming speeds compared to peritrichous bacteria.
FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Microbiology
Yunjie Chang, Hui Xu, Md A. Motaleb, Jun Liu
Summary: Researchers have discovered a multiprotein collar complex in Lyme disease spirochetes, which exhibits remarkable structural plasticity to accommodate the highly curved membrane and generate the high torque necessary for spirochete motility.
Article
Microbiology
Yuansheng Cao, Tairan Li, Yuhai Tu
Summary: This article develops a mathematical model for the rotary bacterial flagellar motor based on the structure of the stator complex. The model predicts distinctive dynamics and load dependence of the rotor and stator, which can be tested by future experiments.
FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Zhengyu Wu, Maojin Tian, Rongjing Zhang, Junhua Yuan
Summary: The study revealed that the two stator systems in the flagellar motor of P. aeruginosa have different functions in terms of torque and speed stability. Wild-type cells adjust stator compositions according to the environment for optimal performance in environmental exploration. The developed bead assay can be further used to study P. aeruginosa chemotaxis at the single-cell level.
APPLIED AND ENVIRONMENTAL MICROBIOLOGY
(2021)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Shuichi Nakamura
Summary: The ability of bacteria to move is crucial for their survival and can be a virulence factor for pathogenic species. This review focuses on the significance of motility, particularly crawling, in liquid and on surfaces, for the causative agent of zoonosis leptospirosis.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Ruben Perez-Carrasco, Maria-Jose Franco-Onate, Jean-Charles Walter, Jerome Dorignac, Fred Geniet, John Palmeri, Andrea Parmeggiani, Nils-Ole Walliser, Ashley L. Nord
Summary: This article focuses on the dynamics of bacterial flagellar motors, revealing a stoichiometry-dependent asymmetry in stator remodeling kinetics and proposing a two-state catch-bond mechanism to explain the observed asymmetry.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Y. C. Chou
Summary: This study proposes a physical mechanism for the torque generation of a bacterial flagellar motor (BFM) by collisions between the stator and rotor, which can generate the impulsive forces required for rotor rotation. It suggests that two mechanisms, asymmetrical rotor fluctuation and collisions between the stator and asymmetric FliG(N) and FliG(M), can generate the torque in the direction of the rotor. These mechanisms may be related to bidirectional rotation, tumbling motion, and the characteristics of the rotational angle.
EUROPEAN PHYSICAL JOURNAL E
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Mohammed Kaplan, Catherine M. Oikonomou, Cecily R. Wood, Georges Chreifi, Poorna Subramanian, Davi R. Ortega, Yi-Wei Chang, Morgan Beeby, Carrie L. Shaffer, Grant J. Jensen
Summary: The assembly of flagellar motors is not a simple accumulation of components, but a dynamic process in which accessory components interact transiently to help build the complex nanomachine. Novel cytoplasmic rings were discovered in high-torque motors of Beta-, Gamma-, and Epsilon-proteobacteria, which interact with the cytoplasmic torque ring formed by FliG and are essential for the assembly of stator ring.
Article
Microbiology
Yingxiang Ye, Panmei Jiang, Chengyun Huang, Jingyun Li, Juan Chen, Lu Wang, Yan Lin, Fangbin Wang, Jian Liu
Summary: This study investigates the effects of metformin on the behavior of Escherichia coli (E. coli), including changes in chemotaxis and flagellar motility. It is found that metformin is sensed as a repellent by E. coli and prolongs the chemotactic recovery time to attractants. Additionally, metformin inhibits the flagellar motility of E. coli. These findings suggest potential implications of metformin on other microorganisms.
FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Angelica Errigo, Jun-Ki Choi, Kelly Kissock
Summary: This article highlights the importance of energy assessments and improving the energy efficiency of industrial motor systems to save energy costs and reduce emissions. Case studies demonstrate the significant economic and environmental benefits of implementing sustainable motor systems.
SUSTAINABLE ENERGY TECHNOLOGIES AND ASSESSMENTS
(2022)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Shuichi Nakamura
Article
Microbiology
Jun Xu, Nobuo Koizumi, Shuichi Nakamura
FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY
(2020)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Keigo Abe, Toshiki Kuribayashi, Kyosuke Takabe, Shuichi Nakamura
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2020)
Article
Biology
Tohru Minamino, Miki Kinoshita, Yusuke V. Morimoto, Keiichi Namba
Summary: The bacterial flagellar protein export machinery consists of an export gate complex and ATPase complex, which utilize H+-driven and Na+-driven engines to export flagellar proteins. The FlgN chaperone can activate the Na+-driven engine when the ATPase complex is non-functional, suggesting a backup mechanism to maintain flagellar function. This proposed mechanism helps to explain how bacteria can construct flagella under conditions of restricted proton motive force.
COMMUNICATIONS BIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Cell Biology
Isabel Sebastian, Nobuhiko Okura, Bruno M. Humbel, Jun Xu, Idam Hermawan, Chiaki Matsuura, Malgorzata Hall, Chitoshi Takayama, Tetsu Yamashiro, Shuichi Nakamura, Claudia Toma
Summary: This study revealed that Leptospira interrogans cleaves E-cadherin and induces endocytosis, leading to disassembly of epithelial cell apical junctional complexes. Furthermore, bacterial transmigration through the paracellular route is crucial for the dissemination of L. interrogans in the host.
CELLULAR MICROBIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Immunology
Eitoyo Kokubu, Yuichiro Kikuchi, Kazuko Okamoto-Shibayama, Shuichi Nakamura, Kazuyuki Ishihara
Summary: The study demonstrates that dentilisin plays a role in the crawling-dependent surface spreading of T. denticola by affecting its motility speed and efficiency, as evidenced by the smaller colony area, lower crawling velocity, and reduced crawling efficiency observed in dentilisin-deficient strains compared to wild-type and Msp mutant strains.
MICROBIOLOGY AND IMMUNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Tohru Minamino, Yusuke Morimoto, Miki Kinoshita, Keiichi Namba
Summary: The text discusses the mechanism of how the proton motive force (PMF) drives flagellar protein export, revealing a close relationship between the protein transport activity of the export gate complex and changes in external pH and Ay.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Kenta I. Ito, Shuichi Nakamura, Shoichi Toyabe
Summary: Cooperativity plays a central role in biological regulation, providing robust and highly-sensitive regulation. The bacterial flagellar motor regulates torque autonomously based on the dynamic structure of the stator, with a cooperative mechanism in the assembly dynamics. External load triggers dynamic remodeling of the molecular complex sustaining torque, and non-equilibrium allostery leads to an avalanche of succeeding bindings.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2021)
Correction
Microbiology
Jun Xu, Nobuo Koizumi, Shuichi Nakamura
FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY
(2021)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Shuichi Nakamura
Summary: The ability of bacteria to move is crucial for their survival and can be a virulence factor for pathogenic species. This review focuses on the significance of motility, particularly crawling, in liquid and on surfaces, for the causative agent of zoonosis leptospirosis.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Microbiology
Tohru Minamino, Yusuke Morimoto, Miki Kinoshita, Keiichi Namba
Summary: The flagellar export chaperones, including FlgN, FliS, and FliT, play crucial roles in facilitating the efficient export of essential component proteins for filament formation. Dynamic interactions between these chaperones and the transmembrane export gate protein FlhA are believed to determine the order of substrate export.
FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Microbiology
Ryo Nakao, Toshiyuki Masuzawa, Shuichi Nakamura, Nobuo Koizumi
Summary: Leptospira kobayashii, a recently designated species of the genus Leptospira, has a complete genome sequence for strain E30, which consists of two circular chromosomes and two plasmids.
MICROBIOLOGY RESOURCE ANNOUNCEMENTS
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Jun Xu, Nobuo Koizumi, Yusuke V. Morimoto, Ryo Ozuru, Toshiyuki Masuzawa, Shuichi Nakamura
Summary: Nucleotide second messengers play crucial roles in signal transduction in various organisms. A study has found that the swimming motility of the soil bacterium Leptospira kobayashii can be rapidly modulated by light stimulation. Through analysis of a loss-of-photoresponsivity mutant, a novel sensory gene was identified, and the light-dependent synthesis of cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) was elucidated. These findings reveal a new role for cAMP in controlling the flagella-dependent motility of Leptospira and highlight the global distribution of the newly discovered photoactivated cyclase among diverse microbial species.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Hidenori Hashimura, Yusuke Morimoto, Yusei Hirayama, Masahiro Ueda
Summary: Research has found that calcium signaling is involved in mechanosensing during Dictyostelium development, including cell motility and morphogenesis, through different molecular mechanisms.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Soojung Hahn, Gyuri Kim, Sang-Man Jin, Jae Hyeon Kim
Summary: This study utilized three-dimensional intestinal organoids to investigate the effects of metformin on inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and found that metformin can enhance intestinal barrier function and reduce levels of inflammatory cytokines.
BIOCHEMICAL AND BIOPHYSICAL RESEARCH COMMUNICATIONS
(2024)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
V. V. Sudarev, M. S. Gette, S. V. Bazhenov, O. M. Tilinova, E. V. Zinovev, I. V. Manukhov, A. I. Kuklin, Yu. L. Ryzhykau, A. V. Vlasov
Summary: This study investigated the self-assembly processes of ferritin-based protein complexes and obtained structurally characterized oligomeric states. These results provide new potential and opportunities for the application of ferritin in various fields.
BIOCHEMICAL AND BIOPHYSICAL RESEARCH COMMUNICATIONS
(2024)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Yalda Sabaghi, Farnaz Pourfarzad, Leila Zolghadr, Azita Bahrami, Tahereh Shojazadeh, Alireza Farasat, Nematollah Gheibi
Summary: p-Coumaric acid (p-CA) is a plant compound with anti-cancer activities. This study designed a nano-liposomal carrier containing p-CA to enhance its effectiveness against melanoma cells. The findings showed that the liposomal form of p-CA had a greater impact on the cells. Kinetic modeling indicated that the best fitting model was zero-order.
BIOCHEMICAL AND BIOPHYSICAL RESEARCH COMMUNICATIONS
(2024)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
M. D. Nazmul Hasan, Md Mahfuzur Rahman, Al Asmaul Husna, Nobuhiro Nozaki, Osamu Yamato, Naoki Miura
Summary: This study investigated the expression of ncRNAs other than miRNAs in different histologic subtypes of canine mammary gland tumors (MGT). Three aberrantly expressed ncRNAs were identified as potential biomarkers for differentiating MGT subtypes. YRNA and tRFs expression levels were found to be decreased in metastatic compared to primary MGT cell lines.
BIOCHEMICAL AND BIOPHYSICAL RESEARCH COMMUNICATIONS
(2024)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Seine A. Shintani
Summary: In this study, the researchers used signal analysis to study the instantaneous amplitude and phase of sarcomeric oscillations in skeletal muscle. They identified two types of oscillations, sarcomeric oscillations and sarcosynced oscillations, and visualized their behavior during propagating waves. The researchers discovered the presence of sarcomeric defect holes and sarcomeric collision holes, which are important indicators for understanding the oscillation properties of sarcomeres. This finding has important implications for improving our understanding of muscle function and its regulatory mechanisms.
BIOCHEMICAL AND BIOPHYSICAL RESEARCH COMMUNICATIONS
(2024)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Shuanglin Zhang, Yuzhong Jia, Guolan Ma, Yanyan Yang, Zhenzhen Cao, Antao Luo, Zefu Zhang, Shihan Li, Jie Wen, Hanfeng Liu, Jihua Ma
Summary: Bupleurum is an antiarrhythmic agent that may exert its effects by inhibiting L-type calcium channels.
BIOCHEMICAL AND BIOPHYSICAL RESEARCH COMMUNICATIONS
(2024)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Tomotaka Ohkubo, Yasuhiko Matsumoto, Hiroaki Sasaki, Kaoru Kinoshita, Yuki Ogasawara, Takashi Sugita
Summary: This study found that Citrobacter koseri inhibits the growth of Staphylococcus epidermidis, disrupting the balance between S. epidermidis and Staphylococcus aureus, and exacerbating inflammation in atopic dermatitis.
BIOCHEMICAL AND BIOPHYSICAL RESEARCH COMMUNICATIONS
(2024)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Toshifumi Asano, Philipp Sasse, Takao Nakata
Summary: A Cre recombination-based fluorescent reporter system was developed to monitor cell-cell fusion. The system successfully detected the formation of multinuclear myotubes and placental syncytiotrophoblast. This tool could facilitate the study of cell-to-cell fusion.
BIOCHEMICAL AND BIOPHYSICAL RESEARCH COMMUNICATIONS
(2024)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Ke Shi, Yunlong Shan, Xiao Sun, Kuida Chen, Qiong Luo, Qiang Xu
Summary: This study found that low expression of TP53INP2 is associated with poor survival in colorectal cancer (CRC) patients. As the malignancy of CRC progresses, TP53INP2 expression gradually decreases. Knockdown of TP53INP2 promotes CRC cell proliferation and tumor growth. Mechanistically, TP53INP2 deficiency decreases phosphorylation of beta-catenin, leading to increased accumulation and enhanced nuclear translocation and transcriptional activity. Additionally, TP53INP2 sequesters TIM50, inhibiting its activation of beta-catenin. In conclusion, downregulation of TP53INP2 promotes CRC progression by activating beta-catenin.
BIOCHEMICAL AND BIOPHYSICAL RESEARCH COMMUNICATIONS
(2024)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Martina Rossi, Fabio Tomaselli, Alejandro Hochkoeppler
Summary: Oligomeric enzymes are known for their higher catalytic rates compared to monomeric enzymes, but the extent of additivity in their activity is still not well understood. This study used tetrameric rabbit lactate dehydrogenase as a model to examine the kinetics of its catalytic action. Surprisingly, when the concentration of the limiting reactant exceeded that of a single subunit, there was a significant slowdown in the enzyme's conformational rearrangements.
BIOCHEMICAL AND BIOPHYSICAL RESEARCH COMMUNICATIONS
(2024)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Amin Sahraei, Mohammad Javad Shamsoddini, Fakhrossadat Mohammadi, Leila Hassani
Summary: This study explored the inhibitory effects of gallium curcumin, indium curcumin, and vanadyl curcumin on the amyloid fibrillation of hen egg white lysozyme, as well as the binding interactions of these metal complexes with the enzyme. The results showed that indium curcumin and vanadyl curcumin exhibited higher binding affinities and stronger inhibitory effects on amyloid fibrillation compared to gallium curcumin.
BIOCHEMICAL AND BIOPHYSICAL RESEARCH COMMUNICATIONS
(2024)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Takahiro Sasaki, Yoshiki Kuse, Shinsuke Nakamura, Masamitsu Shimazawa
Summary: PGRN deficiency plays a significant role in cardiac remodeling and arrhythmias post-myocardial infarction (MI), potentially by promoting metabolic abnormalities in macrophages.
BIOCHEMICAL AND BIOPHYSICAL RESEARCH COMMUNICATIONS
(2024)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Hongwei Zhao, Yiqiang Li, Yibo Zhang, Chi Zhang
Summary: Electrical brain stimulation technology is commonly used to treat brain neurological disorders, but it can cause side effects. This study investigated the impact of electric fields on nerve fibers and revealed the possible origin of side effects. The findings provide guidance for selecting electrical parameters in clinical stimulation therapy.
BIOCHEMICAL AND BIOPHYSICAL RESEARCH COMMUNICATIONS
(2024)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Julia S. Scott, Lake-Ee Quek, Andrew J. Hoy, Johannes V. Swinnen, Zeyad D. Nassar, Lisa M. Butler
Summary: The fatty acid elongation enzyme ELOVL5 plays a critical role in promoting metastasis in prostate cancer. Knocking down ELOVL5 leads to the accumulation of malonyl-CoA, which inhibits fatty acid oxidation in mitochondria. This study highlights the importance of fatty acid elongation in regulating cell viability and provides a potential target for prostate cancer treatment.
BIOCHEMICAL AND BIOPHYSICAL RESEARCH COMMUNICATIONS
(2024)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Zan Zhou, Wen-jun Jiang, Li Li, Jun-qiang Si
Summary: This study investigates the effect of noise exposure on cognitive function in mice and explores the underlying molecular mechanisms. The findings suggest that noise exposure leads to increased inflammation, increased phosphorylation of Tau protein, and decreased levels of postsynaptic density protein, resulting in cognitive impairment.
BIOCHEMICAL AND BIOPHYSICAL RESEARCH COMMUNICATIONS
(2024)
