Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Jean Paul Cerna-Vargas, Beatriz Sanchez-Romera, Miguel A. Matilla, Alvaro Ortega, Tino Krell
Summary: Solute binding proteins (SBPs) are important proteins in prokaryotes, which play essential roles in substrate transport and signal transduction. By analyzing the three-dimensional structures of SBPs and their ligands, we have identified 26 SBP Pfam families, each with a preference for a specific ligand class. Evolutionary analysis suggests a functional link between SBPs and chemoreceptors.
MICROBIAL BIOTECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Plant Sciences
Yuki Ichinose, Yuta Watanabe, Stephany Angelia Tumewu, Hidenori Matsui, Mikihiro Yamamoto, Yoshiteru Noutoshi, Kazuhiro Toyoda
Summary: Pta6605 is a causal agent of wildfire disease in tobacco plants, requiring chemotaxis and aerotaxis for plant infection. It has seven che gene clusters and 54 potential chemoreceptor genes, but a chemoreceptor for the Che2 chemosensory pathway has not been identified.
PHYSIOLOGICAL AND MOLECULAR PLANT PATHOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Agronomy
Vytoria Piscitelli Cavalcanti, Willian Cesar Terra, Julio Carlos Pereira da Silva, Altino Junior Mendes Oliveira, Kamilly Maria Fernandes Fonseca, Brenda Miriam Silva, Vicente Paulo Campos, Filipe Almendagna Rodrigues, Flavio Henrique Vasconcelos de Medeiros, Joyce Doria
Summary: This study evaluated the feasibility of intercropping garlic, Madagascar periwinkle, and yarrow to control root-knot nematodes. The roots of Madagascar periwinkle showed high attraction for the nematodes, while tomato roots had higher penetration by the nematodes. The most attractive root exudates were secreted by tomato and marigold, and most nematodes in Madagascar periwinkle and marigold roots did not develop to adults. Intercropping tomato or lettuce with any of the tested non-hosts reduced the number of nematode eggs and improved the growth of both crops.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Maximilian K. G. Ehrhardt, Monica L. Gerth, Jodie M. Johnston
Summary: Chemotaxis is the process of bacteria sensing chemical gradients and navigating towards favourable conditions through trans-membrane chemoreceptor proteins. Pseudomonas syringae pv. actinidiae (Psa) has a large number of chemoreceptors encoded in its genome, with many remaining uncharacterized.
BIOCHEMICAL AND BIOPHYSICAL RESEARCH COMMUNICATIONS
(2021)
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
Biology
Hao Wang, Mengqi Zhang, Yujuan Xu, Renjie Zong, Nan Xu, Minliang Guo
Summary: This study identifies Atu0526 from Agrobacterium as a chemoreceptor for the broad-spectrum antibacterial agent formic acid, playing a crucial role in its chemotactic function. The binding of formic acid to Atu0526 promotes the growth of Agrobacterium. In vivo experiments show that the substitution of arginine at a key site significantly affects the chemotaxis of Agrobacterium towards formic acid.
Article
Plant Sciences
Clara Galvez-Roldan, Jean Paul Cerna-Vargas, Jose Juan Rodriguez-Herva, Tino Krell, Saray Santamaria-Hernando, Emilia Lopez-Solanilla
Summary: Nitrate metabolism is important in bacterial physiology. The nitrate- and nitrite-sensing (NIT) domain-containing chemoreceptor of Dickeya dadantii 3937 (Dd3937) plays a key role in plant pathogenic bacteria's entry and infection success. Nitrate perception not only affects the expression of nitrate reductase genes but also controls the expression of virulence determinants in Dd3937.
Review
Food Science & Technology
Yucheng Zhang, Ning Ma, Peng Tan, Xi Ma
Summary: This review provides an overview of how gut bacteria use quorum sensing (QS) to communicate and coordinate their activities, and the role of QS in the interaction between the gut host and microbiota. Understanding the communication network of gut microbiota is crucial for developing strategies against bacterial illnesses and improving gut health.
CRITICAL REVIEWS IN FOOD SCIENCE AND NUTRITION
(2022)
Article
Physics, Fluids & Plasmas
Shobhan Dev Mandal, Sakuntala Chatterjee
Summary: The competition between sensing and adaptation in Escherichia coli chemotaxis can lead to a performance peak, as shown in extensive numerical simulations using a detailed theoretical model. Receptor clustering amplifies the input signal from ligand binding to enhance chemotactic efficiency, but large clusters also introduce fluctuations in total activity. Additionally, the activity and run-tumble motility are controlled by methylation levels in the adaptation module rather than by ligand binding, resulting in reduced chemotactic efficiency.
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Felix Velando, Miguel A. Matilla, Igor B. Zhulin, Tino Krell
Summary: Amino acids are important nutrients and function as signals for signal transduction pathways. Different bacteria use different chemoreceptors to recognize and navigate amino acid gradients. In this study, we found that the phytobacterium Pectobacterium atrosepticum uses three non-homologous chemoreceptors to detect multiple proteinogenic and non-proteinogenic amino acids.
MICROBIAL BIOTECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Review
Microbiology
Fitz Gerald S. Silao, Per O. Ljungdahl
Summary: Nutrient uptake and metabolism, especially amino acid uptake, play vital roles in the virulence of Candida albicans, a pathogenic fungus closely associated with human hosts.
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Yoan Hidalgo-Rosa, Karel Mena-Ulecia, Manuel A. Treto-Suarez, Eduardo Schott, Dayan Paez-Hernandez, Ximena Zarate
Summary: The study focused on the structural and photophysical properties of Cd-MOF and its mechanism in sensing 4-nitroaniline, revealing that photoinduced electron transfer from Cd-MOF to pNA is responsible for fluorescence quenching. This methodology proves to be a robust tool in accurately elucidating the sensing mechanism in MOF chemosensors.
JOURNAL OF MATERIALS SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Endocrinology & Metabolism
William A. Hopkins, Sarah E. DuRant, Michelle L. Beck, W. Keith Ray, Richard F. Helm, L. Michael Romero
GENERAL AND COMPARATIVE ENDOCRINOLOGY
(2020)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Sherry B. Hildreth, Evan E. Foley, Gloria K. Muday, Richard F. Helm, Brenda S. J. Winkel
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2020)
Article
Microbiology
Timofey D. Arapov, Rafael Castanda Saldana, Amanda L. Sebastian, W. Reith Ray, Richard F. Helm, Birgit E. Scharf
JOURNAL OF BACTERIOLOGY
(2020)
Article
Microbiology
K. Karl Compton, Sherry B. Hildreth, Richard F. Helm, Birgit E. Scharf
FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY
(2020)
Article
Microbiology
Hiba Baaziz, K. Karl Compton, Sherry B. Hildreth, Richard F. Helm, Birgit E. Scharf
Summary: Chemoreceptors in Sinorhizobium meliloti enable the bacterium to detect and respond to specific chemicals from its host plant alfalfa, allowing the establishment of a nitrogen-fixing symbiosis. The study characterized the chemoreceptor McpT, which exhibits broad-range carboxylate sensing capabilities and mediates chemotactic response via direct ligand binding and an indirect mechanism. Understanding the molecular dialogue between S. meliloti and alfalfa helps in developing efficient bacterial inoculants for promoting the growth of alfalfa and improving soil fertility.
JOURNAL OF BACTERIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Behavioral Sciences
Madeline Musaus, Kayla Farrell, Shaghayegh Navabpour, W. Keith Ray, Richard F. Helm, Timothy J. Jarome
Summary: The study provides evidence that atypical linear polyubiquitination plays a critical role in fear memory formation, with sex-specific functional roles, and independent of protein degradation. This expands the understanding of the potential roles of ubiquitin signaling in learning-dependent synaptic plasticity.
FRONTIERS IN BEHAVIORAL NEUROSCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Plant Sciences
Gerald F. Schneider, Diego Salazar, Sherry B. Hildreth, Richard F. Helm, Susan R. Whitehead
Summary: The study found that fruits have higher chemical diversity compared to leaves, with fruits containing more unique compounds and having a higher total estimated chemical richness. Different plant organs, plant species, and the interaction between the two significantly influenced secondary metabolite composition. Variance in chemical composition across samples was higher for fruits than leaves.
FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Thomas M. Galligan, Richard F. Helm, Brian F. Case, Catherine M. Bodinof Jachowski, Clara L. Frazier, Valentina Alaasam, William A. Hopkins
Summary: Seasonally breeding species such as the eastern hellbender show cyclic changes in circulating steroid hormone profiles that correspond with reproductive behaviors and ecology. Testosterone and dihydrotestosterone seem to be the predominant androgens in eastern hellbenders, playing important roles in regulating reproductive processes for both males and females. Additionally, the study provides a physiological framework for future research on hellbender reproductive biology, which could be crucial for their conservation efforts.
GENERAL AND COMPARATIVE ENDOCRINOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Neurosciences
Kayla Farrell, Madeline Musaus, Shaghayegh Navabpour, Kiley Martin, W. Keith Ray, Richard F. Helm, Timothy J. Jarome
Summary: The study revealed differences in protein targets of degradation process in the amygdala between male and female rats following fear conditioning, suggesting possible sex specificity. K48 polyubiquitin may contribute to fear memory formation by degrading various proteins involved in the process.
FRONTIERS IN MOLECULAR NEUROSCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Microbiology
Tanner G. DeHart, Mara R. Kushelman, Sherry B. Hildreth, Richard F. Helm, Brandon L. Jutras
Summary: Peptidoglycan, the main component of bacterial cell walls, provides structural strength and protection for cells. Borrelia burgdorferi, the Lyme disease pathogen, produces glycans with a unique disaccharide that affects its cell wall properties.
NATURE MICROBIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Behavioral Sciences
Aspen Gustin, Shaghayegh Navabpour, Kayla Farrell, Kiley Martin, Jessica DuVall, W. Keith Ray, Richard F. Helm, Timothy J. Jarome
Summary: The study reveals a sex-specific role for protein SUMOylation in the amygdala during fear memory formation. Females show increased targeting of individual proteins by SUMOylation following fear conditioning, while males do not. These findings expand our understanding of how protein SUMOylation contributes to fear memory formation in a gender-specific manner.
BEHAVIOURAL BRAIN RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Geriatrics & Gerontology
Ling Wu, Zerui Wang, Shradha Lad, Nailya Gilyazova, Darren T. Dougharty, Madeleine Marcus, Frances Henderson, W. Keith Ray, Sandra Siedlak, Jianyong Li, Richard F. Helm, Xiongwei Zhu, George S. Bloom, Shih-Hsiu J. Wang, Wen-Quan Zou, Bin Xu
Summary: Tau aggregates, present in various tauopathies, have been identified as potential sources for selective detection and biomarker discovery. This study utilized different methods to investigate the role and seeding properties of tau aggregates in different diseases, and demonstrated the species-specific seeding ability of tau aggregates on human tau isoforms. These findings offer potential new biomarkers for the diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease and related tauopathies, and provide new insights into isoform-specific tau aggregation.
FRONTIERS IN AGING NEUROSCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Paul Velander, Ling Wu, Sherry B. Hildreth, Nancy J. Vogelaar, Biswarup Mukhopadhyay, Richard F. Helm, Shijun Zhang, Bin Xu
Summary: This study identified a class of inhibitors, including catechol-containing compounds and redox-related quinones/anthraquinones, that have inhibitory effects on amyloidogenic proteins. Further investigation revealed that the redox state of these compounds is a key determinant of their inhibitor activities. The insights gained from this study not only explain the anti-neurodegenerative and anti-aging activities of polyphenolic compounds enriched in a healthy diet, but also provide guidance for the design of therapeutic or nutraceutical strategies targeting neurodegenerative and related aging diseases.
PHARMACOLOGICAL RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Neurosciences
Kiley Martin, Madeline Musaus, Shaghayegh Navabpour, Aspen Gustin, W. Keith Ray, Richard F. Helm, Timothy J. Jarome
Summary: Evidence suggests that protein degradation plays a significant role in fear memory formation, particularly in the dorsal hippocampus of female animals. Inhibiting protein degradation in this region impairs contextual fear memory consolidation in females specifically, highlighting a sex-specific mechanism in fear memory processes.
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Hope Tobey, Tyler Lucas, Douglas Bledsoe, Michael Mykins, Caroline Campbell, Stuart S. Berr, Todd Sasser, Richard Helm, Per Gunnar Brolinson, Bradley G. Klein, Blaise M. Costa
JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN OSTEOPATHIC ASSOCIATION
(2019)