Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Alejandro Villalta, Batoul Srour, Audrey Lartigue, Martin Clemancey, Deborah Byrne, Florence Chaspoul, Antoine Loquet, Bruno Guigliarelli, Genevieve Blondin, Chantal Abergel, Benedicte Burlat
Summary: Scientists have discovered a protein in the giant virus mimivirus that is rich in the amino acids glycine and cysteine. This protein, called GciS, is one of the most abundant proteins in the viral particles and is likely essential for infection. It has unique binding properties with iron and inorganic sulfide.
JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Daniel W. Bak, Eranthie Weerapana
Summary: This study describes a chemoproteomic strategy that monitors changes in the reactivity of Fe-S cysteine ligands to inform on Fe-S cluster occupancy and demonstrates its utility in Escherichia coli. The results show global disruptions in Fe-S incorporation in cells cultured under iron-depleted conditions, identify Fe-S client proteins reliant on scaffold, carrier, and chaperone proteins within the Isc Fe-S biogenesis pathway, and identify two previously unannotated Fe-S proteins, TrhP and DppD.
NATURE CHEMICAL BIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Inorganic & Nuclear
Juan He, Jia Wei, Gan Xu, Xu-Dong Chen
Summary: The rational construction of versatile Mo-Fe-S cubane clusters was achieved using a LEGO strategy, providing a controlled synthesis method for biomimetic chemistry.
INORGANIC CHEMISTRY
(2022)
Article
Immunology
Nathella Pavan Kumar, Syed Hissar, Kannan Thiruvengadam, Velayuthum V. Banurekha, N. Suresh, Janani Shankar, S. Elilarasi, N. S. Gomathi, S. Kalpana, J. Ganesh, M. A. Aravind, Dhanaraj Baskaran, Srikanth Tripathy, Soumya Swaminathan, Subash Babu
Summary: The study identified IFN-γ, TNF-α, IL-2, and IL-17A as potential biomarkers for pediatric tuberculosis. Following anti-tuberculosis treatment, cytokine levels decreased significantly, and combiROC models showed high sensitivity and specificity, providing an accurate diagnostic method.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Patricia Comella-del-Barrio, Jose Luis Izquierdo-Garcia, Jacqueline Gautier, Mariette Jean Coute Doresca, Ramon Campos-Olivas, Clara M. Santiveri, Beatriz Muriel-Moreno, Cristina Prat-Aymerich, Rosa Abellana, Tomas M. Perez-Porcuna, Luis E. Cuevas, Jesus Ruiz-Cabello, Jose Dominguez
Summary: In this study, differences in metabolic response in children with different diagnostic certainty of TB were identified using urine nuclear magnetic resonance-based metabolomics. This could help improve the accuracy of TB diagnosis and prediction in pediatric populations.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2021)
Article
Biology
Trixia M. Buscagan, Jens T. Kaiser, Douglas C. Rees
Summary: This study presents crystallographic data demonstrating chalcogenide exchange at the Fe4S4 cluster of nitrogenase Fe protein under certain conditions, revealing the unique properties of Fe protein in nitrogenase reactions.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Feng Liu, Lei Shi, Xuanni Lin, Biao Zhang, Yongde Long, Fenghui Ye, Riqing Yan, Ruyi Cheng, Chuangang Hu, Dong Liu, Jieshan Qiu, Liming Dai
Summary: Here, a conceptual strategy for introducing spatial sulfur (S)-bridge ligands to regulate the coordination environment of Fe-Co-N dual-metal centers (Spa-S-Fe,Co/NC) is reported. The Spa-S-Fe,Co/NC catalyst showed significantly enhanced oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) performance and satisfactory long-term durability in acidic electrolyte. Experimental and theoretical studies revealed that the excellent acidic ORR activity with remarkable stability observed for Spa-S-Fe,Co/NC is attributable to the charge-modulation of Fe-Co-N bimetallic centers by the spatial S-bridge ligands, achieving optimal adsorption-desorption of ORR oxygenated intermediates. These findings provide a unique perspective to optimize the electrocatalytic performance of catalysts with dual-metal centers by regulating their local coordination environment.
Article
Plant Sciences
Jonathan Przybyla-Toscano, Andrew E. Maclean, Marina Franceschetti, Daniela Liebsch, Florence Vignols, Olivier Keech, Nicolas Rouhier, Janneke Balk
Summary: NFU4 and NFU5 proteins in plants have a housekeeping function and are involved in the lipoylation process of mitochondrial dehydrogenases, providing Fe-S clusters to lipoyl synthase.
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Leszek Rydz, Maria Wrobel, Halina Jurkowska
Summary: Mitochondria are crucial organelles for the synthesis of Fe-S clusters, with sulfurtransferases playing a key role. Fe-S clusters are essential for Fe-S proteins, susceptible to oxidative stress but capable of being resynthesized or repaired. Sulfurtransferases are involved in the formation, maturation, and reconstitution of Fe-S clusters.
Review
Plant Sciences
Diego F. Gomez-Casati, Maria Busi, Julieta Barchiesi, Maria A. Pagani, Noelia S. Marchetti-Acosta, Agustina Terenzi
Summary: Iron and sulfur are essential elements for organisms, forming Fe-S clusters that play key roles in various cellular processes. Information on genes and proteins involved in Fe-S cluster assembly in green algae, particularly in mitochondrial pathways, is limited and requires further investigation.
Article
Microbiology
Ashutosh S. Tripathi, Kushi Anand, Mayashree Das, Ruchika Annie O'Niel, Chandrani Thakur, Raghunatha Reddy R. L., Raju Rajmani, Nagasuma Chandra, Sunil Laxman, Amit Singh
Summary: This study identifies a novel critical protein, SufT, in Mtb that plays an important role in the maturation of Fe-S clusters. SufT interacts with other proteins to regulate Fe-S cluster biogenesis in Mtb and affects the survival, metabolism, and infectivity of Mtb.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Evan M. F. Shepherdson, Marie A. Elliot
Summary: Streptomyces bacteria have complex life cycles and remarkable metabolic capabilities. Their recently discovered exploration ability allows them to successfully compete with other microbes. Nutrient availability affects exploration rates and metabolic output, with glycerol dramatically increasing exploration rates. Different siderophores play different roles in exploration, and the alternative siderophore foroxymithine is more important than desferrioxamine during coculture.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2022)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Yifan Huang, Ying Li, Wensen Lin, Shuhao Fan, Haorong Chen, Jiaojiao Xia, Jiang Pi, Jun-Fa Xu
Summary: This review provides an overview of the role and characteristics of circular RNAs (circRNAs) in tuberculosis (TB). CircRNAs, as a type of non-coding RNA, play crucial regulatory roles in the development and progression of TB, and have the potential to serve as diagnostic biomarkers and therapeutic targets.
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Cassandra L. R. van Doorn, Clare Eckold, Katharina Ronacher, Rovina Ruslami, Suzanne van Veen, Ji-Sook Lee, Vinod Kumar, Sarah Kerry-Barnard, Stephanus T. Malherbe, Leanie Kleynhans, Kim Stanley, Philip C. Hill, Simone A. Joosten, Reinout van Crevel, Cisca Wijmenga, Julia A. Critchley, Gerhard Walzl, Bachti Alisjahbana, Marielle C. Haks, Hazel M. Dockrell, Tom H. M. Ottenhoff, Eleonora Vianello, Jacqueline M. Cliff
Summary: The study found that the analysis of patients' whole blood transcriptional profiles can predict treatment failure or success in tuberculosis, even in patients with diabetes mellitus.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Shunpei Yokoo, Kei Hirose, Shoh Tagawa, Guillaume Morard, Yasuo Ohishi
Summary: Liquid-liquid immiscibility has been found in the cores of planets like Mars and in the Earth's outer core, shedding light on the formation and termination of planetary magnetic fields.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2022)
Article
Microbiology
C. Sao Emani, M. J. Williams, I. J. Wiid, B. Baker, C. Carolis
ANTIMICROBIAL AGENTS AND CHEMOTHERAPY
(2018)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
C. Sao Emani, M. J. Williams, P. D. Van Helden, M. J. C. Taylor, I. J. Wiid, B. Baker
BIOCHEMICAL AND BIOPHYSICAL RESEARCH COMMUNICATIONS
(2018)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Danicke Willemse, Brandon Weber, Laura Masino, Robin M. Warren, Salvatore Adinolfi, Annalisa Pastore, Monique J. Williams
Review
Immunology
Nastassja L. Kriel, James Gallant, Niel van Wyk, Paul van Helden, Samantha L. Sampson, Robin M. Warren, Monique J. Williams
Article
Immunology
Monique J. Williams, Crystal A. Shanley, Andrew Zilavy, Blas Peixoto, Claudia Manca, Gilla Kaplan, Ian M. Orme, Valerie Mizrahi, Bavesh D. Kana
INFECTION AND IMMUNITY
(2015)
Article
Microbiology
Tsaone Tamuhla, Lydia Joubert, Danicke Willemse, Monique J. Williams
Review
Microbiology
Nyaradzai Mitchell Chimukuche, Monique J. Williams
Summary: Non-tuberculosis mycobacteria (NTMs) are a diverse group of organisms with significant genetic diversity within the genus. Despite most NTMs not being extensively studied, the rise in NTM infections has sparked increasing interest in these organisms. Recent advancements in genetic tools have allowed for studies on genetic manipulation of NTMs, but challenges remain in applying these techniques to such a diverse group.
FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Boiketlo Sebate, Katelyn Cuttler, Ruben Cloete, Marcell Britz, Alan Christoffels, Monique Williams, Jonathan Carr, Soraya Bardien
Summary: This study utilized WES to identify a potential pathogenic mutation in a South African family with autosomal dominant PD, finding that a variant in NRXN2 may be the causal gene for the disease. The research showed destabilizing effects of the variant on protein structure, with NAG contributing to restoration of mutant NRXN2's structural stability.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Lucinda Baatjies, Ilana G. van Rensberg, Candice J. Snyders, Andrea Gutschmidt, Andre Loxton, Monique Williams
Summary: Iron is important for Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection and survival. The SufR operon is involved in iron-sulphur biogenesis in M. tuberculosis and is induced during iron limitation and intracellular growth, indicating its relevance during infection. A fluorescent reporter was used to study sufR expression during intracellular growth, and while increased fluorescence was observed in a sub-set of the population, the immune response elicited by SufR in TB-infected individuals was low and did not show a strong immune response.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Christian C. Otum, Emmanuel Riviere, Monique Barnard, Johannes Loubser, Monique J. Williams, Elizabeth M. Streicher, Annelies Van Rie, Robin M. Warren, Marisa Klopper
Summary: Through experimental and computational methods, it was found that the Rv0678 Thr33Ala mutation confers resistance to BDQ, while the atpE Ile66Val mutation does not. However, definite proof can only be provided by complementation studies given the presence of secondary mutations.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2023)
Article
Microbiology
Nandi Niemand Wolhuter, Lerato Ngakane, Timothy J. de Wet, Robin M. Warren, Monique J. Williams
Summary: In this study, a single A-type carrier protein, MSMEG_4272, was found to play a role in the biogenesis of Fe-S clusters in Mycobacterium smegmatis. The gene was shown to be essential for in vitro growth and to regulate intracellular iron levels. This research provides further insights into the function of ATC proteins.
Article
Immunology
Danicke Willemse, Lucinda Baatjies, Anzaan Dippenaar, Robin M. Warren, Monique J. Williams
Summary: Iron-sulphur (FeS) cluster biogenesis is tightly regulated in vivo. The transcriptional repressor SufR in Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) controls the primary FeS cluster biogenesis system. Three mutants with the same sufR deletion displayed different growth kinetics, and whole genome sequencing revealed single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in specific genes in two of the mutants. Phenotyping of one mutant without additional SNPs showed increased susceptibility to certain drugs, indicating the impact of the sufR deletion position and progenitor strain genotype on the resulting phenotype.
Article
Cell Biology
Nastassja L. Kriel, Tiaan Heunis, Samantha L. Sampson, Nico C. van Pittius, Monique J. Williams, Robin M. Warren
BMC MOLECULAR AND CELL BIOLOGY
(2020)
Article
Cell Biology
C. Sao Emani, M. J. Williams, I. J. Wiid, B. Baker
JOURNAL OF BIOMEDICAL SCIENCE
(2018)