Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Haichao Feng, Yu Lv, Tino Krell, Ruixin Fu, Yunpeng Liu, Zhihui Xu, Wenbin Du, Qirong Shen, Nan Zhang, Ruifu Zhang
Summary: Bacteria have evolved multiple signal transduction systems to adapt to changing environmental conditions. The chemoreceptor McpA of Bacillus velezensis SQR9 has been found to directly bind to 13 chemoattractants. Structural biology studies and mutagenesis experiments have identified key amino acid residues that play roles in recognizing multiple ligands. This discovery reveals a mechanism in which a single chemoreceptor can integrate diverse signals through two modules.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Elizabet Monteagudo-Cascales, Alvaro Ortega, Felix Velando, Bertrand Morel, Miguel A. Matilla, Tino Krell
Summary: Bacterial signal transduction systems are typically activated by the binding of signal molecules to receptor ligand binding domains (LBDs), such as the NIT LBD. The NIT domain is found in over 15,000 receptors from 30 bacterial phyla and 19 eukaryotic phyla, and it is a part of seven receptor families involved in transcription control, chemotaxis, or second messenger regulation.
MOLECULAR MICROBIOLOGY
(2023)
Editorial Material
Microbiology
Miguel A. Matilla, Tino Krell
Summary: Bodhankar et al. discovered a novel sensing mechanism in which the signal interacts with the McpA chemoreceptor signaling domain, resulting in a chemorepellence response in Bacillus subtilis. The identified binding site for the repellent is analogous to the attractant binding site in McpB, another chemoreceptor in B. subtilis.
JOURNAL OF BACTERIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Microbiology
Kevin S. Johnson, Bassam A. Elgamoudi, Freda E-C Jen, Christopher J. Day, Emily Goers Sweeney, Megan L. Pryce, Karen Guillemin, Thomas Haselhorst, Victoria Korolik, Karen M. Ottemann
Summary: The Helicobacter pylori chemoreceptor TIpA plays a role in dampening host inflammation during chronic stomach colonization by sensing multiple attractant ligands as well as antagonist ones. This ability to regulate chemotactic responses by antagonistic chemoreceptor ligands is an emerging theme in chemotaxis systems.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Caralyn E. Flack, John S. Parkinson
Summary: Our study provides important insights into the molecular signaling mechanisms of transmembrane chemoreceptors in Escherichia coli, offering valuable clues for further research in this area.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2022)
Article
Microbiology
Girija A. Bodhankar, Payman Tohidifar, Zachary L. Foust, George W. Ordal, Christopher Rao
Summary: This study investigates the chemotaxis of Bacillus subtilis to phenol. The main findings are that McpA is the principal chemoreceptor responsible for the repellent response to phenol, while McpC and HemAT govern the attractant response to phenol. The signaling domain of McpA is found to sense phenol, as evidenced by in vitro binding experiments. These results contribute to our understanding of bacterial chemotaxis and demonstrate the ability of chemoreceptors to directly sense chemoeffectors.
JOURNAL OF BACTERIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Min-Kyung Park, Soyeon Lee, Young-Suk Kim
Summary: The study investigated the changes in volatile metabolites of Bacillus subtilis by exposing it to different culture conditions, revealing alterations in metabolic pathways such as carbohydrate metabolism, amino acid metabolism, fatty acid metabolism, and leucine degradation. The results showed culture condition-specific metabolic changes, particularly in secondary volatile metabolites related to the sensory property of foods.
Article
Chemistry, Medicinal
Zhong Chen, Kun Song, Yongpeng Shang, Yanpeng Xiong, Zhihui Lyu, Junwen Chen, Jinxin Zheng, Peiyu Li, Yang Wu, Chenjian Gu, Youhua Xie, Qiwen Deng, Zhijian Yu, Jian Zhang, Di Qu
Summary: This study identified novel candidate molecules targeting histidine kinase YycG against Enterococcus faecalis through high-throughput virtual screening. Among the selected molecules, compound-16 and compound-62 were verified as potential YycG inhibitors. Compound-16 inhibited planktonic cells of E. faecalis, while compound-62 primarily inhibited biofilm formation.
JOURNAL OF MEDICINAL CHEMISTRY
(2021)
Article
Microbiology
Marissa A. Berry, Ekaterina P. Andrianova, Igor B. Zhulin
Summary: Chemosensory systems in bacteria and archaea are complex and multi-protein pathways that allow rapid cellular response to environmental changes. CheA histidine kinase, a central component of these systems, lacks a sensor domain and relies on dedicated chemoreceptors for sensing. This study provides a genomic survey of CheA domain composition from thousands of bacteria and archaea, revealing variations and deviations from the canonical architecture. It lays the foundation for better classification of CheA homologs and identifies targets for experimental investigations.
MICROBIOLOGY SPECTRUM
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Mengmeng Wang, Yipeng Zang, Kangjin Hong, Xiaofeng Zhao, Chenrui Yu, Dandan Liu, Zichao An, Liyuan Wang, Wenjin Yue, Guangjun Nie
Summary: A novel strategy was designed to construct a pH-sensitive hydrogel structure that is stable in simulated gastric fluid but breaks down in simulated intestinal fluid. The structure showed a high embedding rate of Bacillus subtilis natto and sustained release for over 10 hours, balancing the conflicting properties of pH sensitivity and sustained release.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL MACROMOLECULES
(2021)
Article
Microbiology
Claudia Sanchis-Lopez, Jean Paul Cerna-Vargas, Saray Santamaria-Hernando, Cayo Ramos, Tino Krell, Pablo Rodriguez-Palenzuela, Emilia Lopez-Solanilla, Jaime Huerta-Cepas, Jose J. Rodriguez-Herva
Summary: Chemosensory pathways in bacteria are crucial for environmental sensing and response, with a large diversity of ligand binding domains (LBDs) identified. Our study demonstrates the importance of environmental factors in shaping the evolution and selection of LBDs, especially in plant-associated bacteria. The presence of niche-specific LBD types suggests lifestyle adaptation is important in the selection of these signal transduction proteins.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Erwin C. C. Stuffle, Tise Suzuki, Emilie Orillard, Kylie J. J. Watts
Summary: In this study, the chemoreceptor VvAer2 in the marine pathogen Vibrio vulnificus was analyzed and found to have unique structural features compared to other bacteria. Experimental results confirmed that VvAer2 can sense and respond to oxygen. Further investigations revealed distinct roles of different PAS domains in signal transduction, strengthening previous understandings of Aer2 receptors.
MOLECULAR MICROBIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Microbiology
Taha, Bassam A. Elgamoudi, Ekaterina P. Andrianova, Thomas Haselhorst, Christopher J. Day, Lauren E. Hartley-Tassell, Rebecca M. King, Tahria Najnin, Igor B. Zhulin, Victoria Korolik
Summary: In this study, the receptor-ligand interactions of a unique paralogue family of chemoreceptors, Tlp2, Tlp3, and Tlp4, in Campylobacter jejuni were described. These chemoreceptors may have arisen through domain duplications, with Tlp3 emerging more recently and responding to glycans. The diversity in sensory repertoire could provide C. jejuni with the ability to modulate responses to attractant and repellent signals and allow adaptation in host-pathogen interactions.
MICROBIOLOGY SPECTRUM
(2022)
Article
Microbiology
Basanta Dhodary, Inmaculada Sampedro, Shekooh Behroozian, Victor Borza, Stephanie Her, Jane E. Hill
Summary: Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a common pathogen in patients with cystic fibrosis, asthma, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. It shows chemotaxis towards the non-proteinogenic amino acid l-ornithine. The chemoreceptors involved in P. aeruginosa's response to l-ornithine are PctA and PctB.
Article
Microbiology
Philipp F. Popp, Vadim M. Gumerov, Ekaterina P. Andrianova, Lisa Bewersdorf, Thorsten Mascher, Igor B. Zhulin, Diana Wolf, Laura A. Hug
Summary: Maintaining cell envelope integrity is crucial for microorganisms. The phage shock protein (Psp) stress response is a conserved protection network that connects stress perception, signal transduction, and cellular responses. This study reveals the distribution and diversity of Psp systems in various bacterial and archaeal phyla, and establishes a natural classification system for Psp networks based on protein domain analysis. The research highlights the importance of studying Psp functions in underrepresented organisms.