Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Andrea Canal-Martin, Ruth Perez-Fernandez
Summary: Dynamic combinatorial chemistry in biological environments often requires long equilibration times for thiol-disulfide exchange. This study demonstrates the use of selenocystine as a catalyst to accelerate thiol-disulfide exchange at physiological pH and low temperatures, showing its potential in promoting correct protein folding. Additionally, the study explores target-driven self-assembly processes using spermine, spermidine, and NADPH, as well as identifying a non-competitive inhibitor in a glucose oxidase directed dynamic combinatorial library.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Yayoi Onda, Tomoya Okino
Summary: This study highlights the crucial role of thiol-disulfide oxidoreductase PDI1;1 in actin structures. PDI1;1 can recognize and degrade the disulfide bonds in high-molecular-weight structures of actin.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Tomasz Przepiora, Donata Figaj, Aleksandra Bogucka, Jakub Fikowicz-Krosko, Robert Czajkowski, Nicole Hugouvieux-Cotte-Pattat, Joanna Skorko-Glonek
Summary: DsbA oxidoreductase plays a crucial role in introducing disulfide bonds in bacteria, and its absence may result in the loss of virulence. In this study, a D. solani dsbA mutant was constructed, and it was found that the lack of DsbA led to the loss of virulence and affected multiple aspects of bacterial physiology.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Anna M. Banas, Katarzyna M. Bocian-Ostrzycka, Stanislaw Dunin-Horkawicz, Jan Ludwiczak, Piotr Wilk, Marta Orlikowska, Agnieszka Wyszynska, Maria Dabrowska, Maciej Plichta, Marta Spodzieja, Marta A. Polanska, Agata Malinowska, Elzbieta Katarzyna Jagusztyn-Krynicka
Summary: The bacterial Dsb proteins catalyze the formation of disulfide bridges between cysteine residues, stabilizing protein structures. Campylobacter jejuni's oxidizing Dsb system consists of two monomeric DsbAs and one dimeric bifunctional protein. The two monomeric DsbAs in C. jejuni are dispensable proteins, with homologous structures to EcDsbL. Comparative proteomics showed that the Dsb system targets several respiratory and periplasmic transport proteins, essential for the bacterium's respiratory process in oxygen-limiting conditions. The detailed analysis provides insights into potential antibacterial targets.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Microbiology
Song F. Lee, Lydia Li, Naif Jalal, Scott A. Halperin
Summary: This study identified the enzyme SdbA as responsible for catalyzing the formation of a disulfide bond in the superantigen SpeA in Streptococcus pyogenes. The cysteine residues in the CXXC motif of SdbA are crucial for this catalytic activity. The disulfide bond in SpeA is essential for its biological activity and presents a potential target for reducing the virulence of S. pyogenes.
JOURNAL OF BACTERIOLOGY
(2021)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Danielle M. Beaupre, Richard G. Weiss
Summary: The review focuses on the properties and applications of synthetic thiol- and disulfide-based materials, particularly polymers. The emphasis is on soft and self-assembling materials, where interconversion of thiol and disulfide groups can trigger stimulus-responses and self-healing, for both biomedical and non-biomedical applications.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Yangyang Cheng, Anh-Tuan Pham, Takehiro Kato, Bumhee Lim, Dimitri Moreau, Javier Lopez-Andarias, Lili Zong, Naomi Sakai, Stefan Matile
Summary: Ellman's reagent has been causing confusion and concern as a probe for thiol-mediated uptake due to its inefficiency, prompting a search for more potent inhibitors. The use of fluorescent cyclic oligochalcogenides revealed inhibitors with nanomolar activity that are over 5000 times more effective than Ellman's reagent. The complexity of thiol-mediated uptake was highlighted by different activities found with different reporters.
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Osman Konuray, Sasan Moradi, Adria Roig, Xavier Fernandez-Francos, Xavier Ramis
Summary: In order for covalent adaptable networks to be fully recyclable, they need to overcome all topological restrictions and flow. A statistically based method showed that the relaxation of stress in disulfide-containing thiol-ene polymers is closely related to the fraction of permanent cross-links. Even with low disulfide content, the materials can be recycled at moderate temperatures without losing tensile properties by triggering transesterification reactions through increased reprocessing temperature, due to the presence of ester bonds.
ACS APPLIED POLYMER MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Yiwen Zhu, Mengyu Lin, Wenting Hu, Junkai Wang, Zhi-Guo Zhang, Kai Zhang, Bingran Yu, Fu-Jian Xu
Summary: A controllable disulfide exchange polymerization method was developed to obtain low-toxicity and efficient bioreducible polyguanidines, which showed promising therapeutic effects in delivering different functional nucleic acids.
ANGEWANDTE CHEMIE-INTERNATIONAL EDITION
(2022)
Article
Polymer Science
Saleh Alfarhan, James Brown, Boer Liu, Timothy Long, Kailong Jin
Summary: This study demonstrates a simple and scalable synthesis of chemically recyclable crosslinked thiol-ene photopolymers that contain dynamic disulfide bonds. The incorporated dynamic disulfide bonds allow for chemical recycling of the thiol-ene networks, leading to the production of recycled photopolymer networks with full property retention. This new recycling approach could potentially contribute to a circular economy of crosslinked photopolymers.
JOURNAL OF POLYMER SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Lucia Coppo, Simona Scheggi, Graziella DeMontis, Raffaella Priora, Simona Frosali, Antonio Margaritis, Domenico Summa, Danila Di Giuseppe, Monica Ulivelli, Paolo Di Simplicio
Summary: This article discusses the relationship between increased plasma concentrations of total homocysteine (tHcy) and the onset/progression of diseases, but it is not yet clear how the increase in tHcy leads to pathological conditions. It is suggested that albumin may play a role in homocysteine toxicity, and further research on the redox role of albumin and thiol-disulfide exchange reactions could offer new therapeutic insights for reducing homocysteine toxicity.
ANTIOXIDANTS & REDOX SIGNALING
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Lisa R. Knoke, Jannik Zimmermann, Natalie Lupilov, Jannis F. Schneider, Beyzanur Celebi, Bruce Morgan, Lars I. Leichert
Summary: The thiol redox balance in the periplasm of E. coli was examined using genetically encoded redox probes (roGFP2 and roGFP-iL). The presence of an alternative system for the introduction of disulfide bonds and the role of glutathione in the oxidative folding machinery were explored.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
W. T. Michael Seo, Moises Ballesteros II, Emily Y. Tsui
Summary: A zinc dithiolate complex supported by a [N3S2] ligand was studied as a model for zinc-mediated thiolate-disulfide exchange. The results show that there is interaction between the zinc center and the disulfide moiety, leading to activation of the S-S bond for subsequent reactions. Comparison with a previously prepared zinc tetrasulfanido complex suggests that sulfane sulfur (S-0) acts as an efficient thiolate trapping agent.
JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Jenna R. Mattice, Krista A. Shisler, Jennifer L. DuBois, John W. Peters, Brian Bothner
Summary: This study provides evidence that 2-KPCC undergoes conformational changes during catalysis, which may contribute to substrate discrimination and the production of acetoacetate.
JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL CHEMISTRY
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Gregory A. Prussia, Krista A. Shisler, Oleg A. Zadvornyy, Bennett R. Streit, Jennifer L. DuBois, John W. Peters
Summary: The 2-KPCC enzyme, a member of the DSOR family, plays a key role in promoting carboxylation of acetoacetate through the F501H and H506E variants. F501 protects the enolacetone intermediate from protons, while H506 stabilizes the formation of acetoacetate, providing insight into the catalytic mechanism of 2-KPCC. Additionally, the F501H substitution promotes a DSOR-like charge transfer interaction with flavin adenine dinucleotide, eliminating the need for cysteine as an internal base.
JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL CHEMISTRY
(2021)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
M. Lairon-Peris, S. J. Routledge, J. A. Linney, J. Alonso-Del-Real, C. M. Spickett, A. R. Pitt, J. M. Guillamon, E. Barrio, A. D. Goddard, A. Querol
Summary: Researchers characterized 61 strains of Saccharomyces cerevisiae for ethanol tolerance and identified differences in ethanol sensitivity among different strains. The study revealed variations in membrane fluidity and permeability, suggesting a potential link between lipid composition and ethanol sensitivity.
APPLIED AND ENVIRONMENTAL MICROBIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Biology
Akshay Sabnis, Katheryn L. H. Hagart, Anna Klockner, Michele Becce, Lindsay E. Evans, R. Christopher D. Furniss, Despoina A. Mavridou, Ronan Murphy, Molly M. Stevens, Jane C. Davies, Gerald J. Larrouy-Maumus, Thomas B. Clarke, Andrew M. Edwards
Summary: Colistin is a last-resort antibiotic with poor efficacy due to growing resistance. Recent research has shown that colistin exerts bactericidal activity by targeting lipopolysaccharide in the cytoplasmic membrane of bacteria. These findings offer insight into novel approaches for enhancing therapeutic outcomes.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Lorna J. Smith, Chloe W. Green, Christina Redfield
Summary: The study on the homo-trimeric protein disulphide isomerase PmScsC shows that its 'shape-shifter' peptide can adopt various conformations, potentially impacting its catalytic function and binding to protein substrates. Analysis of crystal structures and experiments reveals the role of intermolecular contacts in stabilising different linker peptide conformations.
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Zeba Usmani, Minaxi Sharma, Abhishek Kumar Awasthi, Tiit Lukk, Maria G. Tuohy, Liang Gong, Phuong Nguyen-Tri, Alan D. Goddard, Roslyn M. Bill, S. Chandra Nayak, Vijai Kumar
Summary: Lignocellulosic biomass is a valuable and sustainable feedstock, yet commercial success remains low due to factors such as irregular biomass supply chains, inefficient technologies, and high operating costs. Investing in research and development to address these challenges is essential for the advancement of lignocellulosic biorefineries.
RENEWABLE & SUSTAINABLE ENERGY REVIEWS
(2021)
Article
Microbiology
Sophie A. Howard, R. Christopher D. Furniss, Dora Bonini, Himani Amin, Patricia Paracuellos, David Zlotkin, Tiago R. D. Costa, Asaf Levy, Despoina A. I. Mavridou, Alain Filloux
Summary: The T6SS is a bacterial nanoscale weapon that delivers toxins into prey and plays a key role in the arms race between organisms. By using Hcp as bait, researchers identified uncharacterized toxins and investigated the role of Hcp in the T6SS mechanism.
Article
Microbiology
Laura M. Nolan, Amy K. Cain, Thomas Clamens, R. Christopher D. Furniss, Eleni Manoli, Maria A. Sainz-Polo, Gordon Dougan, David Albesa-Jove, Julian Parkhill, Despoina A. I. Mavridou, Alain Filloux
Summary: TraDIS is used to identify T6SS toxins in Pseudomonas aeruginosa, leading to the discovery of Tse8 which targets the transamidosome complex in target cells to inhibit protein synthesis. This study expands the range of cellular components targeted by T6SS and validates the global genomics approach for identifying T6SS toxins in T6SS-encoding bacteria.
NATURE MICROBIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Genetics & Heredity
Maria Lairon-Peris, Gabriel L. Castiglioni, Sarah J. Routledge, Javier Alonso-del-Real, John A. Linney, Andrew R. Pitt, Josef Melcr, Alan D. Goddard, Eladio Barrio, Amparo Querol
Summary: The study focused on the adaptation of a wine industrial yeast to stress conditions involving high ethanol concentrations. The adapted hybrid strain showed increased tolerance to sulfite and ethanol, but decreased fermentation capacity for glucose and fructose compared to the original strain. Genomic analysis revealed different signals of adaptation and chromosomal aneuploidies in the adapted strain. RNA-sequencing analysis showed differential gene expression related to adaptation signals found in the genome of the adapted strain. Additionally, alterations in the lipid composition of the membrane were reported as part of conserved tolerance mechanisms.
MICROBIAL GENOMICS
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Benjamin O. Ezema, Kingsley O. Omeje, Roslyn M. Bill, Alan D. Goddard, Sabinus Oscar O. Eze, Alfred Fernandez-Castane
Summary: Lipolytic fungus Aspergillus flavus was isolated, and its lipase gene was sequenced and characterized. The study revealed the presence of a lipase consensus sequence and a catalytic active site lid domain in the Aspergillus flavus lipase sequence. Furthermore, the study provided insights into the structural and molecular properties of the lipase, which will be crucial for future biotechnology applications.
JOURNAL OF BIOMOLECULAR STRUCTURE & DYNAMICS
(2023)
Article
Microbiology
Madeleine Humphrey, Gerald J. Larrouy-Maumus, R. Christopher D. Furniss, Despoina A. Mavridou, Akshay Sabnis, Andrew M. Edwards
Summary: Colistin is a last resort antibiotic for multi-drug-resistant Gram-negative bacteria, targeting LPS to disrupt bacterial membranes. Colistin resistance in Escherichia coli occurs through chemical modifications to LPS, protecting the cytoplasmic membrane from damage. This resistance mechanism appears to be consistent across different mcr genes or chromosomal mutations.
Article
Biology
R. Christopher D. Furniss, Nikol Kaderabkova, Declan Barker, Patricia Bernal, Evgenia Maslova, Amanda A. A. Antwi, Helen E. McNeil, Hannah L. Pugh, Laurent Dortet, Jessica M. A. Blair, Gerald Larrouy-Maumus, Ronan R. McCarthy, Diego Gonzalez, Despoina A. Mavridou
Summary: Antimicrobial resistance in Gram-negative bacteria poses a major threat to global health, and the development of new antibacterial strategies is urgently needed. This study demonstrates that disrupting cell envelope protein homeostasis can simultaneously compromise multiple classes of resistance determinants, laying the foundation for the development of broad-acting antibiotic adjuvants.
Review
Microbiology
Nikol Kaderabkova, Manasa Bharathwaj, R. Christopher D. Furniss, Diego Gonzalez, Tracy Palmer, Despoina A. I. Mavridou
Summary: The discovery of penicillin marked a new era in modern medicine, but the emergence of resistance against penicillin and other antibiotics has become a major concern. β-lactamases, hydrolytic enzymes, are largely responsible for this resistance. While much is known about these resistance determinants, little is discussed about their biogenesis process.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Justin R. Randall, Cory D. DuPai, T. Jeffrey Cole, Gillian Davidson, Kyra E. Groover, Sabrina L. Slater, Despoina A. I. Mavridou, Claus O. Wilke, Bryan W. Davies
Summary: This article introduces a method for designing a large peptide library with macrocyclic beta-hairpin structure. Through activity-driven high-throughput screening, dozens of peptides that kill bacteria through selective membrane disruption are identified, and their biochemical features are analyzed using machine learning. Active peptides have a unique constrained structure and are highly enriched in cationic charge with arginine in their turn region. This study provides a synthetic strategy for structured macrocyclic peptide design and discovery, while also elucidating important characteristics for beta-hairpin antimicrobial peptide activity.
Article
Infectious Diseases
Jennifer K. Parker, Richard Gu, Gregory A. Estrera, Betsy Kirkpatrick, Dusten T. Rose, Despoina A. Mavridou, Kristin E. Mondy, Bryan W. Davies
Summary: Carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales (CRE) infections are increasing in Central Texas, with Klebsiella pneumoniae ST307 being the major cause, carrying ESBL-associated genes. Porin mutations may contribute to the transition from ESBL-producing to non-CP-CRE in ST307 isolates. Furthermore, CRE isolates also carry active colicinogenic plasmids, which may influence their competitiveness during colonization.
INFECTION AND DRUG RESISTANCE
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Apilaasha Tharmasothirajan, Josef Melcr, John Linney, Thomas Gensch, Karin Krumbach, Karla Marlen Ernst, Christopher Brasnett, Paola Poggi, Andrew R. Pitt, Alan D. Goddard, Alexandros Chatgilialoglu, Siewert J. Marrink, Jan Marienhagen
Summary: Microbial synthesis of plant polyphenols is a more environmentally friendly option compared to chemical synthesis or plant extraction. However, these polyphenols are usually toxic to microorganisms. This study investigates the accumulation of resveratrol in cell membrane and wall during production, and finds that the membrane rigidifying effect of resveratrol can be attenuated by adding palmitelaidic acid or linoleic acid, leading to increased production.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
John A. Linney, Sarah J. Routledge, Simon D. Connell, Tony R. Larson, Andrew R. Pitt, Elizabeth R. Jenkinson, Alan D. Goddard
Summary: There is a growing interest in using microbial cell factories to produce butanol, which is an industrial solvent, platform chemical, and a cleaner alternative to conventional fossil fuels. However, the toxicity of butanol remains a major obstacle to the implementation and development of these technologies. This study investigated the changes in lipid composition in Clostridium saccharoperbutylacetonicum N1-4 (HMT) during butanol fermentation and found that altering the membrane's lipid composition can increase tolerance to butanol. This information will ultimately inform efforts in strain engineering to produce higher quantities of butanol.
BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA-BIOMEMBRANES
(2023)