Article
Microbiology
Sarah E. M. Born, Matthew J. Reichlen, Iona L. Bartek, Jeanne B. Benoit, Daniel N. Frank, Martin I. Voskuil
Summary: Bacteria use population heterogeneity to adapt to different environmental challenges. This study describes multiple morphological variants in M. smegmatis and M. abscessus, and observes a shift from smooth to rough form in extended static culture. The presence of an aggregated microenvironment plays a role in this shift. Variants show differences in growth, biofilm formation, cell wall composition, and drug tolerance. Deletion of the global regulator lsr2 shifts the intermediate morphotype of M. smegmatis to a smooth form, but does not fully replicate the naturally generated smooth morphotype. Rough forms are associated with higher invasiveness and worse infection outcomes.
Article
Genetics & Heredity
Indu Kapoor, Abhirup Shaw, Arindam Naha, Elhassan Ali Fathi Emam, Umesh Varshney
Summary: Cross-talks between DNA repair pathways are crucial for maintaining genomic integrity. In this study, we found that the AP-sites bound by UdgB are not direct substrates for nucleotide excision repair (NER) and that helicases UvrD2 and UvrB facilitate the recycling of UdgB from AP-DNA, exposing the AP-sites for further repair.
Article
Microbiology
Marta Kolodziej, Tomasz Lebkoeski, Przemyslaw Plocinski, Joanna Holowka, Mariola Pasciak, Bartosz Wojtas, Katarzyna Bury, Igor Konieczny, Jaroslaw Dziadek, Jolanta Zakrzewska-Czerwinska
Summary: Lsr2 is a nucleoid-associated protein found in actinobacteria, primarily acting as a repressor by directly binding DNA sequences or indirectly regulating gene expression through DNA loop formation. Study results suggest that Lsr2 controls gene expression and affects antibiotic susceptibility in M. smegmatis bacteria.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Yao Liu, Tiezheng Pan, Kefan Wang, Yuqin Wang, Shuanghong Yan, Liying Wang, Shanyu Zhang, Xiaoyu Du, Wendong Jia, Panke Zhang, Hong-Yuan Chen, Shuo Huang
Summary: Recent developments in large protein nanopores have allowed for the direct observation and distinction of different conformers of calmodulin, a Ca2+-binding protein. This study demonstrated how a disease-related mutant and different ions can affect the binding capacity and stability of calmodulin. The systematic single-molecule investigation showcased the high sensing resolution offered by the MspA nanopore trap.
ANGEWANDTE CHEMIE-INTERNATIONAL EDITION
(2021)
Review
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Pietro Cannazza, Silvia Donzella, Alessandro Pellis, Martina Letizia Contente
Summary: This review article summarizes the extraordinary activity of the acyltransferase from Mycobacterium smegmatis (MsAcT) for various reactions and its ability to produce interesting compounds. The article focuses on the mechanism, engineering, and different process types (batch and flow) using MsAct as either free or immobilized form. It also presents the author's personal view on the unexplored reaction possibilities using MsAcT as a glimpse into the future of the topic.
BIOTECHNOLOGY ADVANCES
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Yanting Tang, An Mu, Yuying Zhang, Shan Zhou, Weiwei Wang, Yuezheng Lai, Xiaoting Zhou, Fengjiang Liu, Xiuna Yang, Hongri Gong, Quan Wang, Zihe Rao
Summary: Encapsulins containing dye-decolorizing peroxidase (DyP)-type peroxidases play a role in protecting prokaryotic cells against oxidative stress. Through isolating and studying a native cargo-packaging encapsulin from Mycobacterium smegmatis, researchers have determined the high-resolution structure and proposed a potential mechanism for hydrogen peroxide removal. The study suggests DyP as the primary cargo protein of mycobacterial encapsulins and a potential target for antituberculosis drug discovery.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Shuanghong Yan, Jinyue Zhang, Yu Wang, Weiming Guo, Shanyu Zhang, Yao Liu, Jiao Cao, Yuqin Wang, Liying Wang, Fubo Ma, Panke Zhang, Hong-Yuan Chen, Shuo Huang
Summary: Proteins exhibit diverse functions due to their variable amino acid sequences, but current technology for direct protein sequence analysis remains inadequate. The development of nanopore sequencing has sparked efforts to sequence peptides in a similar manner, successfully achieving direct observation of peptide's ratcheting motion and showing potential for peptide fingerprinting.
Article
Microbiology
Jin-Feng Pei, Nan Qi, Yu-Xin Li, Jing Wo, Bang-Ce Ye
Summary: Research has found that nutrient metabolism plays a crucial role in the pathogenesis of Mycobacterium tuberculosis. By studying its fast-growing counterpart, Mycobacterium smegmatis, the phosphate sensing regulator RegX3 was identified to be essential for propionate metabolism and survival in macrophages. This novel transcriptional regulation mechanism sheds light on nutrient sensing and adaptation in mycobacteria.
FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Artem S. Grigorov, Yulia V. Skvortsova, Oksana S. Bychenko, Leonid V. Aseev, Ludmila S. Koledinskaya, Irina V. Boni, Tatyana L. Azhikina
Summary: This study conducted comparative transcriptomic analysis on cold-tolerant mycobacteria and found distinct gene expression patterns during the acclimation and adaptation phases. The adaptation strategies developed by mycobacteria were found to be unique compared to other bacteria. These findings shed light on the molecular mechanisms underlying the survival of mycobacteria under cold stress.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Saloni Rajesh Wani, Vikas Jain
Summary: The study reveals that M. smegmatis MscR exhibits mycothiol-independent formaldehyde dehydrogenase activity in vitro, with zinc enhancing its activity. Additionally, MscR only uses formaldehyde as its substrate and M. smegmatis lacking MscR shows increased sensitivity to formaldehyde. Investigation of conserved cysteines in MscRs from various bacteria demonstrates their importance in structural stability and enzymatic activity.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Michael S. Christodoulou, Martina Letizia Contente, Sabrina Dallavalle, Andrea Pinto
Summary: A highly-productive strategy using an acyltransferase from Mycobacterium smegmatis was developed for the preparation of aminooxo-acids in water. The reaction showed excellent yields and rapid reactions, and the process was considered to be cost-effective and environmentally friendly. The method was successfully applied for the preparation of a key intermediate in SAHA synthesis.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Artem Grigorov, Oksana Bychenko, Elena G. Salina, Yulia Skvortsova, Arina Mazurova, Timofey Skvortsov, Arseny Kaprelyants, Tatyana Azhikina
Summary: Regulatory small non-coding RNA F6 in M. smegmatis plays an essential role in bacterial adaptation to environmental stresses, contributing to resistance against oxidative stress and influencing the expression of RpfE2, a resuscitation-promoting factor. The deletion of F6 results in reduced ability for dormancy entry in potassium deficiency conditions, highlighting the significance of F6 in bacterial adaptation to suboptimal growth conditions.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Priyanka Chauhan, Santhe Amber van der Meulen, Joao Miguel Simoes Caetano, Hojjat Ghasemi Goojani, Dennis Botman, Rob van Spanning, Holger Lill, Dirk Bald
Summary: Insight into bacterial defense mechanisms against drugs is crucial for the design of next-generation tuberculosis chemotherapy. This study investigates the adaptation strategies of Mycobacterium smegmatis to the drug Q203, particularly focusing on the role of cytochrome bd in the respiratory chain. The results show that M. smegmatis responds to Q203 by increasing the expression of cytochrome bcc and cytochrome bd in the presence of functional cytochrome bd. In the absence of functional cytochrome bd, M. smegmatis adapts to Q203 by increasing the expression of cytochrome bcc. Single-cell studies also reveal cell-to-cell variability in drug adaptation.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Microbiology
Xiangyu Fan, Zichen Liu, Zhibin Wan, Hanlu Zou, Mengzhi Ji, Kaili Sun, Rongfeng Gao, Zhongfang Li, Wu Li
Summary: This study demonstrates that the prophage gene Rv2650c can inhibit the colony spread of Mycobacterium smegmatis, enhance resistance to macrophages and various stress agents, and inhibit the expression of inflammatory factors. These results provide insights into the function of prophages in Mycobacterium and may contribute to the discovery of virulence factors in M. tuberculosis.
FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Svetlana G. Frolova, Ksenia M. Klimina, Ravinder Kumar, Aleksey A. Vatlin, Deepak B. Salunke, Pravin Kendrekar, Valery N. Danilenko, Dmitry A. Maslov
Summary: Tryptanthrin, a natural alkaloid, shows great therapeutic potential and resistance provided by the MmpS5-MmpL5 efflux system. Spontaneous tryptanthrin-resistant mutants of M. smegmatis exhibit mutations in genes such as MSMEG_1963 and MSMEG_5597, shedding light on the mechanisms of resistance to tryptanthrins.