Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Delfim Ferreira, Ana C. C. Barbosa, Goncalo P. Oliveira, Teresa Catarino, Sofia S. Venceslau, Ines A. C. Pereira
Summary: Dissimilatory sulfur metabolism is widespread among bacteria and archaea, with DsrAB and other Dsr proteins playing key roles. DsrD acts as an activator of DsrAB and its function is still debated.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2022)
Article
Plant Sciences
Dinara Oshanova, Assylay Kurmanbayeva, Aizat Bekturova, Aigerim Soltabayeva, Zhadyrassyn Nurbekova, Dominic Standing, Arvind Kumar Dubey, Moshe Sagi
Summary: The study highlights the important role of sulfite oxidase (SO) in carbon and sulfur metabolism in plants, not only protecting against elevated sulfite toxicity but also maintaining optimal levels. Results showed that impairment of SO led to an overflow of organic S accumulation and oxidative stress, contributing to lower biomass accumulation rates in Arabidopsis plants.
FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Plant Sciences
Ilaria Forieri, Rasha Aref, Markus Wirtz, Rudiger Hell
Summary: The uptake of sulfate by roots and its reductive assimilation are crucial for plant growth and defense responses against stresses. This study using micrografting techniques on Arabidopsis plants reveals a demand-driven control of shoot over the sulfate uptake system of roots under sulfur-sufficient conditions, allowing dynamic responses for sulfur transport.
Article
Plant Sciences
Aizat Bekturova, Dinara Oshanova, Poonam Tiwari, Zhadyrassyn Nurbekova, Assylay Kurmanbayeva, Aigerim Soltabayeva, Dmitry Yarmolinsky, Sudhakar Srivastava, Veronika Tureckova, Miroslav Strnad, Moshe Sagi
Summary: The study revealed the important roles of adenosine-5'-phosphosulphate reductase (APR) and sulfite oxidase (SO) in sulfite homeostasis, affecting water consumption and stomatal aperture in plants.
JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL BOTANY
(2021)
Article
Microbiology
Emma J. Horn, Rob P. van Hille, Oluwaseun O. Oyekola, Pamela J. Welz
Summary: Recent research has shown that hybrid linear flow channel reactors (HLFCRs) can effectively desulfurize tannery effluent by reducing sulfate and oxidizing sulfide to elemental sulfur. This study investigated the microbial communities in series-operated HLFCRs and identified some undesirable bacteria that need to be addressed for efficient pre-treatment of tannery effluent.
Review
Microbiology
Aleksei Gendron, Kylie D. Allen
Summary: Methyl-coenzyme M reductase (MCR) is an enzyme involved in methane metabolism, playing a crucial role in methane production and the conversion of alkanes. It is a dimer composed of heterotrimers and requires unique post-translational modifications and a specific coenzyme for its catalytic activity. Understanding the catalysis of MCR and its production in heterologous hosts is important for optimizing biocatalytic systems.
FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Dianelis T. Monterrey, Raul Benito-Arenas, Julia Revuelta, Eduardo Garcia-Junceda
Summary: Sulfation of molecules is crucial for the functionality of living organisms, especially in mammals where the sulfation of polysaccharides plays a key role in the formation of proteoglycans. These sulfated polysaccharides act as signal modulators in communication processes and are involved in various biological events. In order to develop sustainable sulfation processes, a multienzyme system was created to synthesize and couple the expensive and difficult-to-obtain PAPS to a chondroitin sulfation system. The resulting product was analyzed using NMR.
FRONTIERS IN BIOENGINEERING AND BIOTECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Xianbin Zhu, Liyuan Chen, Hongzhong Pan, Lei Wang, Xun Zhang, Dan Wang
Summary: This study investigated the diversity and biogenesis contributions of sulfate-reducing bacteria in arsenic-contaminated soils from realgar deposits. Novel gene variants and families were identified, and a novel sulfate-reducing bacterium capable of reducing As(V) and sulfate efficiently was isolated. The unique microbial communities in this area were also characterized.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Microbiology
Delfim Ferreira, Sofia S. S. Venceslau, Raquel Bernardino, Andre Preto, Lichun Zhang, Jacob R. R. Waldbauer, William D. D. Leavitt, Ines A. C. Pereira
Summary: DsrC is a crucial protein in dissimilatory sulfur metabolism, serving as a co-substrate of the dissimilatory sulfite reductase DsrAB. It has been found to have additional functions beyond sulfite reduction. In this study, the role of DsrC in fermentative growth of Desulfovibrio vulgaris Hildenborough was investigated, and it was found that impairment of DsrC function led to reduced growth and a shift towards more fermentative metabolism.
ENVIRONMENTAL MICROBIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Plant Sciences
Luguang Jiang, Yan Wang, Aiai Xia, Qi Wang, Xiaolei Zhang, Joseph M. Jez, Zhen Li, Weiming Tan, Yan He
Summary: This study identified a single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) variant in the sulfite reductase gene that significantly affected protein abundance and sulfur assimilation activity. The research showed that this SNP likely emerged after maize domestication and accumulated with the spread of maize cultivation to different regions.
Review
Microbiology
Gunter Wegener, Rafael Laso-Perez, Victoria J. Orphan, Antje Boetius
Summary: This article reviews recent discoveries in the anaerobic oxidation of alkanes, with a specific focus on archaea that use specific methyl coenzyme M reductases to activate their substrates. Through environmental metagenomics and enrichment cultures, our understanding of the diversity of uncultured alkane-oxidizing archaea has expanded, revealing a group of archaea that directly couples long-chain alkane degradation with methane formation.
ANNUAL REVIEW OF MICROBIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Plant Sciences
Jinxia Feng, Luyi Wang, Wenxin Liu, Xianchong Wan, Zhicheng Chen, Jiaping Zhao
Summary: The study compared two poplar varieties with different resistance to sulfur dioxide, finding that the variation in enzyme activity and metabolite content in sulfur metabolism pathways played a key role in their resistance difference. The 'Purui' variety detoxified sulfur dioxide through two pathways, while the '74/76' variety only increased the activity of SiR for detoxification. Additionally, gene expression of enzymes in cysteine and methionine metabolism also contributed to the resistance difference.
ACTA PHYSIOLOGIAE PLANTARUM
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Patricia R. Feliciano, Kate S. Carroll, Catherine L. Drennan
Summary: Tuberculosis is the deadliest infectious disease in the world. APS reductase plays a vital role in producing essential reduced-sulfur-containing metabolites in Mycobacterium tuberculosis, making it a potential target for therapeutic interventions. The crystal structure of MtbAPSR provides important information for structure-based drug design aimed at combating TB.
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
A. B. Mpofu, W. M. Kaira, G. A. Holtman, O. O. Oyekola, R. P. van Hille, P. J. Welz
Summary: A novel integrated biological system consisting of hybrid linear flow channel reactor (HLFCR) and anaerobic sequential batch reactor (AnSBR) was investigated for efficient treatment of tannery wastewater and recovery of sulfur and methane resources. The system demonstrated high feasibility for anaerobic digestion by utilizing single-stage and two-stage HLFCR topologies with different hydraulic retention times (HRT). The full-scale implementation of the system in a medium sized tannery had significant potential revenue from the sale of recovered resources and savings from reduced electricity demand and sludge disposal.
JOURNAL OF CLEANER PRODUCTION
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Wen-Bo Nie, Jie Ding, Guo-Jun Xie, Xin Tan, Yang Lu, Lai Peng, Bing-Feng Liu, De-Feng Xing, Zhiguo Yuan, Nanqi Ren
Summary: ANME archaea can mediate simultaneous sulfate- and nitrate-dependent anaerobic oxidation of methane, forming a crucial link between the carbon, nitrogen, and sulfur cycles in natural environments. They collaborate with sulfate-reducing bacteria to convert sulfate to sulfide and then sulfide-oxidizing autotrophic denitrifiers to oxidize sulfide back to sulfate, thereby alleviating sulfide accumulation. The unique nanonets formed by ANME-2d and SRB likely facilitate electron transfer, highlighting the complex interactions in methane oxidation processes.
Article
Ecology
Hang Yu, Connor T. Skennerton, Grayson L. Chadwick, Andy O. Leu, Masataka Aoki, Gene W. Tyson, Victoria J. Orphan
Summary: The presence of sulfate significantly stimulates the growth and AOM activity of different ANME-2 lineages, but ANME-2 archaea are unable to respire sulfate.
Article
Microbiology
Paul J. McMurdie, Magdalena K. Stoeva, Nicholas Justice, Madeleine Nemchek, Christian M. K. Sieber, Surabhi Tyagi, Jessica Gines, Connor T. Skennerton, Michael Souza, Orville Kolterman, John Eid
Summary: This study demonstrates an increase in circulating butyrate and ursodeoxycholate following probiotic intervention in humans with T2D, suggesting a potential targeted microbiome-based approach for managing T2D. The efficient synthesis of UDCA by C. butyricum may also be of interest for probiotic use in other disease settings. Additionally, the inhibitory interaction between sulfonylurea drugs and gut microbiota should be carefully considered in future study designs.
Article
Biochemical Research Methods
Liam M. Longo, Rachel Kolodny, Shawn E. McGlynn
Summary: This study reveals the origin of the beta-trefoil protein lineage and suggests that it arose from a peptide fragment of the ancient IgG-like beta-sandwich lineage through a process called peptide budding. The findings highlight the interconnectedness of the protein universe and the evolutionary mechanisms by which new proteins emerge.
PLOS COMPUTATIONAL BIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Ecology
Karen Viacava, Jiangtao Qiao, Andrew Janowczyk, Suresh Poudel, Nicolas Jacquemin, Karin Lederballe Meibom, Him K. Shrestha, Matthew C. Reid, Robert L. Hettich, Rizlan Bernier-Latmani
Summary: This study identified microorganisms actively methylating arsenic in anoxic soil-derived microbial cultures using metagenomics, metatranscriptomics, and metaproteomics. The researchers isolated a strain of Paraclostridium sp. EML, which was confirmed to actively methylate arsenic anaerobically.
Article
Microbiology
Maddison Melchionna, Jessica M. Gullett, Emmanuelle Bouveret, Him K. Shrestha, Paul E. Abraham, Robert L. Hettich, Gladys Alexandre
Summary: Membrane potential homeostasis is crucial for cell survival. The bacterial homologs of the progestin and AdipoQ receptor family (PAQR) named TrhA have been found to play a role in membrane energetics homeostasis, mediating small but consistent changes in unsaturated fatty acid metabolism without impacting membrane fluidity. This finding suggests that bacterial and eukaryotic PAQRs share functions in maintaining membrane homeostasis, with eukaryotes regulating membrane fluidity and bacteria with TrhA homologs regulating membrane energetics.
JOURNAL OF BACTERIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Eugene Kuatsjah, Christopher W. Johnson, Davinia Salvachua, Allison Z. Werner, Michael Zahn, Caralyn J. Szostkiewicz, Christine A. Singer, Graham Dominick, Ikenna Okekeogbu, Stefan J. Haugen, Sean P. Woodworth, Kelsey J. Ramirez, Richard J. Giannone, Robert L. Hettich, John E. McGeehan, Gregg T. Beckham
Summary: The study demonstrates that replacing PobA with PraI, which has a broader cofactor preference, can increase muconic acid yield, reduce 4-HBA accumulation, enhance NADPH utilization, and alleviate metabolic bottleneck, leading to improved production of value-added products from lignin-derived compounds.
METABOLIC ENGINEERING
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Manasa R. Appidi, Amber N. Bible, Dana L. Carper, Sara S. Jawdy, Richard J. Giannone, Robert L. Hettich, Jennifer Morrell-Falvey, Paul E. Abraham
Summary: Plant-microbe interactions in the rhizosphere are important for plant health and productivity. This study developed a method for spatially resolved metaproteomic analysis of root-associated microbiomes in agar-plate culture systems, providing insights into microbial community composition and function.
MOLECULAR PLANT-MICROBE INTERACTIONS
(2022)
Article
Microbiology
Alex S. Grossman, Cristian A. Escobar, Erin J. Mans, Nicholas C. Mucci, Terra J. Mauer, Katarina A. Jones, Cameron C. Moore, Paul E. Abraham, Robert L. Hettich, Liesel Schneider, Shawn R. Campagna, Katrina T. Forest, Heidi Goodrich-Blair
Summary: This study presents a characterization of a newly described Type XI secretion system and its interaction with host glycans. The findings suggest that the outer membrane proteins of this system can bind to host sugars and potentially play a role in colonization.
FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Microbiology
Christian Heryakusuma, Dwi Susanti, Hang Yu, Zhou Li, Endang Purwantini, Robert L. Hettich, Victoria J. Orphan, Biswarup Mukhopadhyay
Summary: Anaerobic methanotrophic archaea (ANME) oxidize methane in marine sediments through associations with sulfate-reducing bacteria. The study showed that FsrII from ANME-2c functions as F-420-dependent nitrite reductase (FNiR), revealing functional specialization within the Fsr protein family.
JOURNAL OF BACTERIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Jaime Barros, Him K. Shrestha, Juan C. Serrani-Yarce, Nancy L. Engle, Paul E. Abraham, Timothy J. Tschaplinski, Robert L. Hettich, Richard A. Dixon
Summary: Ammonia-lyases play a key role in coordinating the allocation of carbon for lignin synthesis and nitrogen availability for plant growth.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Payal Chirania, Evert K. Holwerda, Richard J. Giannone, Xiaoyu Liang, Suresh Poudel, Joseph C. Ellis, Yannick J. Bomble, Robert L. Hettich, Lee R. Lynd
Summary: This study investigates the enzymatic strategies of a methanogenic microbiome deconstructing switchgrass at increasing solids loading, providing insights into the mechanisms of efficient lignocellulose utilization.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2022)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Robert Nogle, Shilpa Nagaraju, Sagar M. Utturkar, Richard J. Giannone, Vinicio Reynoso, Ching Leang, Robert L. Hettich, Wayne P. Mitchell, Sean D. Simpson, Michael C. Jewett, Michael Kopke, Steven D. Brown
Summary: Clostridium autoethanogenum is a model acetogen used for ethanol production and is also being developed for carbon-negative production of acetone and isopropanol through gas fermentation. A plasmid called pCA was assembled for strain DSM10061 (JA1-1) and is predicted to encode seven open-reading frames. The availability of the pCA sequence will aid in understanding its physiological role and optimizing genetic tools.
FRONTIERS IN BIOENGINEERING AND BIOTECHNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Shuen Hon, Tyler Jacobson, David M. Stevenson, Marybeth Maloney, Richard J. Giannone, Robert L. Hettich, Daniel Amador-Noguez, Daniel G. Olson, Lee R. Lynd
Summary: This study investigates the impact of replacing pyrophosphate with ATP as the phosphate donor for the PFK reaction in C. thermocellum. The results show that this change increases the thermodynamic driving force of the reaction but does not significantly alter the final product titer and distribution of fermentation products.
APPLIED AND ENVIRONMENTAL MICROBIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Microbiology
Rafael Laso-Perez, Fabai Wu, Antoine Cremiere, Daan R. Speth, John S. Magyar, Kehan Zhao, Mart Krupovic, Victoria J. Orphan
Summary: This study characterizes a family of ANME-1 archaea and its virome using metagenomics on hydrothermal samples from the Gulf of California. It reveals the diversity, ecology, and evolution of ANME-1 and uncovers the effect of virus-host dynamics. The study also discovers 16 undescribed virus families exclusively targeting ANME-1 archaea, showing unique structural and replicative signatures.
NATURE MICROBIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Pieter Candry, Grayson L. Chadwick, Jose Maria Caravajal-Arroyo, Tim Lacoere, Mari-Karoliina Henriikka Winkler, Ramon Ganigue, Victoria J. Orphan, Korneel Rabaey
Summary: This study investigates the spatial organization and growth activity patterns of granular biofilms producing medium-chain carboxylic acids (MCCA) and reveals that key functional guilds are not stratified. The outer layers of the biofilms consist of Olsenella and Oscillospiraceae, while deeper layers contain less active bacteria. The study also suggests that Oscillospiraceae switch from sugars to lactic acid as a substrate and physical processes may contribute to the lenticular biofilm morphology.