Article
Microbiology
Yan Liao, Verena Vogel, Sabine Hauber, Juergen Bartel, Omer S. Alkhnbashi, Sandra Maass, Thandi S. Schwarz, Rolf Backofen, Doerte Becher, Iain G. Duggin, Anita Marchfelder
Summary: The transcription factor CdrS plays a central role in coordinating metabolism and cell division in the archaeon Haloferax volcanii. It regulates the expression of genes associated with cell division, protein degradation, and metabolism. Additionally, CdrS has multiple DNA-binding sites and is involved in the regulation of essential cell division genes, suggesting its sophisticated role in coordinating cellular pathways.
Article
Microbiology
Marianna Zaretsky, Ziqiang Guan, Raz Zarivach, Jerry Eichler
Summary: The archaeon Haloferax volcanii relies on the dolichol phosphate (DolP)mannose synthase AgID to charge the lipid DolP with mannose for glycoprotein synthesis. Structural similarities between AgID and Pyrococcus furiosus PF0058 were revealed, and truncated versions of AgID were generated to study its functional domains. AgID mutants lacking certain membrane-spanning regions still catalyzed mannose-charging of DolP, but failed to deliver mannose to protein-linked tetrasaccharide, suggesting additional functions of AgID in N-glycosylation.
JOURNAL OF BACTERIOLOGY
(2022)
Review
Microbiology
Rosana E. De Castro, Maria I. Gimenez, Micaela Cerletti, Roberto A. Paggi, Mariana I. Costa
Summary: This article discusses the role of archaeal membrane proteases in cell physiology and their importance in adapting to hostile environments.
FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Tomas Alarcon-Schumacher, Adit Naor, Uri Gophna, Susanne Erdmann
Summary: Viruses play important roles in various environments as ecological, biogeochemical, and evolutionary drivers. Some viruses cause the lysis of their host cells upon infection, while others exhibit chronic infections without cell lysis. The nature and impact of chronic infections in prokaryotic host organisms are not well understood. This study characterizes a novel haloarchaeal virus, HFPV-1, which causes a chronic infection without cell lysis in the model haloarchaeon H. volcanii DS2. The study shows that HFPV-1 and H. volcanii provide a great model system to study virus-host interactions in archaea. HFPV-1 has a wide host range among haloarchaea and may be developed into a genetic tool for studying other inaccessible haloarchaea.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2022)
Article
Microbiology
Daniel Wasser, Andreas Borst, Mathias Hammelmann, Katharina Ludt, Jorg Soppa
Summary: Research has shown that unselected intermolecular gene conversion is highly efficient in archaea, with longer conversion tracts compared to bacteria. Gene conversion frequency is independent of genome differences, and even a single nucleotide difference can trigger conversion.
FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Microbiology
Theopi Rados, Katherine Andre, Micaela Cerletti, Alex Bisson
Summary: This study developed a new xylose-inducible promoter, Pxyl, and characterized its function using msfGFP as a reporter gene. The results showed that the Pxyl promoter exhibited higher levels of gene expression in the presence of xylose compared to the previously described inducible promoter, PtnaA. Additionally, the study validated the inducibility of Pxyl by reproducing morphological phenotypes through the overexpression of FtsZ1 and FtsZ2 genes.
FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Microbiology
Frank Braun, Alejandra Recalde, Heike Bahre, Roland Seifert, Sonja-Verena Albers
Summary: This study analyzed cell extracts of two major archaeal model organisms and detected a variety of nucleotide-based second messengers. The presence of multiple nucleotides in both species confirms the potential existence of these signaling molecules in archaea.
FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Genetics & Heredity
Alexei Cooper, Andrea M. Makkay, R. Thane Papke
Summary: Deletion mutants of all eight tubulin-like genes in Haloferax volcanii significantly impact cell morphology, suggesting that these genes indeed have a function.
Article
Cell Biology
Andriko von Kugelgen, Vikram Alva, Tanmay A. M. Bharat
Summary: The S-layer is an ordered proteinaceous structure covering prokaryotic cells, with SLPs being the most abundant macromolecules in prokaryotes and playing critical roles in cellular physiology. Research reveals that the S-layer is mainly composed of a hexagonal array of tightly interacting immunoglobulin-like domains, while cellular tomography shows the nearly continuous presence of the S-layer on the cell surface.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Phillip Nussbaum, Maren Gerstner, Marie Dingethal, Celine Erb, Sonja-Verena Albers
Summary: Cell division in most bacteria and many archaea relies on the proteins FtsZ and SepF, but a homolog of SepF in archaea, such as Haloferax volcanii, also plays a crucial role in cell division by interacting with FtsZ1 and FtsZ2. The archaeal SepF lacks a conserved glycine residue important for polymerization in bacteria, suggesting a different mechanism of action in archaea.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2021)
Article
Microbiology
Deniz Ueresin, Dennis J. Pyper, Andreas Borst, Lydia Hadjeras, Rick Gelhausen, Rolf Backofen, Cynthia Sharma, Harald Schwalbe, Joerg Soppa
Summary: It is increasingly recognized that very small proteins, called mu-proteins, are ubiquitously found in all species of the three domains of life, and they fulfill important functions. Through in-depth analysis of two C(P)XCG proteins in Haloferax volcanii, it was found that they play pivotal roles in the swarming behavior and biofilm formation of H. volcanii.
FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Microbiology
Shamphavi Sivabalasarma, Hanna Wetzel, Phillip Nussbaum, Chris van der Does, Morgan Beeby, Sonja-Verena Albers
Summary: Through electron cryo-tomography and fluorescence microscopy, it has been observed that halophilic archaea form cell-cell bridges during mating, which can facilitate exchange of cellular components.
FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Microbiology
Megha Patro, Iain G. Duggin, Sonja-Verena Albers, Solenne Ithurbide
Summary: This study investigates the impact of auxotrophic mutations and the presence of plasmids on the cell shape of Haloferax volcanii. The results show that most auxotrophic strains have variations in cell shape parameters and the presence of plasmids also impacts these parameters. The Delta hdrB strains and hdrB selection markers have the most influence on H. volcanii cell shape.
FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Kohtaro Hirao, Immacolata Speciale, Anna Notaro, Yoshiyuki Manabe, Yoshiaki Teramoto, Takaaki Sato, Haruyuki Atomi, Antonio Molinaro, Yoshihiro Ueda, Cristina De Castro, Koichi Fukase
Summary: This study describes the isolation, structural determination, and chemical synthesis of the N-glycan from the hyperthermophilic archaeon Thermococcus kodakarensis, revealing a unique structure including myo-inositol not found in previously characterized N-glycans. The synthesis of this glycan was successfully achieved through diastereoselective phosphorylation and phosphodiester construction by S(N)2 coupling. This research is expected to provide insights into the primitive function of glycan modification at the molecular level by considering the early divergence of hyperthermophilic organisms in evolution.
ANGEWANDTE CHEMIE-INTERNATIONAL EDITION
(2023)
Article
Virology
L. Johanna Gebhard, Zlata Vershinin, Tomas Alarcon-Schumacher, Jerry Eichler, Susanne Erdmann
Summary: N-glycosylation is crucial for cell stability, motility, and virus-host interactions in Archaea. The study investigated the impact of compromised N-glycosylation on virus infection dynamics using a mutant strain of Halorubrum lacusprofundi. The results showed that compromised N-glycosylation had different effects on different viruses, highlighting the significance of N-glycosylation in virus-host interactions.
Review
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Elizabeth Edwards, Maria Livanos, Anja Krueger, Anne Dell, Stuart M. Haslam, C. Mark Smales, Daniel G. Bracewell
Summary: Glycosylation plays a critical role in the quality and characteristics of therapeutic monoclonal antibodies in biologic manufacturing. Advances have been made in upstream processing, such as mammalian cell line engineering, to improve the predictability of glycosylation. Downstream processing strategies, including the use of novel technologies, are also being explored to control glycosylation. However, more research is needed to establish holistic and consistent manufacturing processes for antibody therapies.
BIOTECHNOLOGY AND BIOENGINEERING
(2022)
Article
Microbiology
Marianna Zaretsky, Ziqiang Guan, Raz Zarivach, Jerry Eichler
Summary: The archaeon Haloferax volcanii relies on the dolichol phosphate (DolP)mannose synthase AgID to charge the lipid DolP with mannose for glycoprotein synthesis. Structural similarities between AgID and Pyrococcus furiosus PF0058 were revealed, and truncated versions of AgID were generated to study its functional domains. AgID mutants lacking certain membrane-spanning regions still catalyzed mannose-charging of DolP, but failed to deliver mannose to protein-linked tetrasaccharide, suggesting additional functions of AgID in N-glycosylation.
JOURNAL OF BACTERIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Anna Notaro, Zlata Vershinin, Ziqiang Guan, Jerry Eichler, Cristina De Castro
Summary: This study used nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy to reveal a tetrasaccharide structure linked to the archaellins and S-layer glycoprotein in Halobacterium salinarum, confirming the presence of iduronic acid and the novel observation of sulfation at the O-3 position. This adds to our understanding of N-glycosylation in Archaea.
CARBOHYDRATE RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Caixia Pei, Hua Lu, Jiayin Ma, Jerry Eichler, Ziqiang Guan, Linlu Gao, Li Liu, Hui Zhou, Jinghua Yang, Cheng Jin
Summary: AepG is identified as a dolichol phosphate glucuronosyltransferase involved in the synthesis of acidic exopolysaccharide in H. hispanica, which is vital for the adaptation to high salt environment.
JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL CHEMISTRY
(2023)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Zhengyuan Huang, Pei F. Lai, Alexander T. H. Cocker, Stuart M. Haslam, Anne Dell, Hugh J. M. Brady, Mark R. Johnson
Summary: Protein N-linked glycosylation is a diverse post-translational modification that stores biological information in a larger magnitude than other modifications. It impacts trophoblast functions and their interactions with decidual cells. Understanding N-glycosylation can improve approaches to predicting and diagnosing pregnancy complications related to placental dysfunction.
BIOCHEMICAL SOCIETY TRANSACTIONS
(2023)
Article
Microbiology
Jerry Eichler
Summary: Halobacterium salinarum is a salt-loving archaeon that has been studied extensively since the discovery of bacteriorhodopsin in 1971. It has contributed to scientific advancements in various disciplines, such as membrane protein structure determination and glycoprotein research. Additionally, research on Hbt. salinarum has provided insights into molecular workings in the third domain and adaptations to high salt environments.
Review
Physics, Multidisciplinary
Esraa Nsasra, Irit Dahan, Jerry Eichler, Ofer Yifrach
Summary: In recent years, it has been recognized that intrinsically disordered protein segments play important roles in cellular processes, challenging the classical structure-function paradigm. One particular class of such segments, called entropic clocks, are involved in timing cellular processes. This review focuses on the role of entropic clocks in voltage-activated potassium channels and their binding and clustering mechanisms. Alternative splicing of the Kv channel gene is shown to modulate the function of entropic clocks and provide functional diversity.
Meeting Abstract
Immunology
Belen Gimeno-Molina, Erna Bayar, Katherine Mountain, Ryan Love, Yun Lee, Ingrid Muller, Anne Dell, Stuart Haslam, Paola Grassi, Gang Wu, David MacIntyre, Phillip Bennett, Pascale Kropf, Lynne Sykes
JOURNAL OF REPRODUCTIVE IMMUNOLOGY
(2023)
Meeting Abstract
Immunology
Katherine Mountain, David MacIntyre, Denise Chan, Alice Hyde, James Pasint-Magyar, Yun Lee, Richard Brown, Anna David, Anne Dell, Ten Feizi, Stuart Haslam, Yan Liu, Holly Lewis, Jane Norman, Sarah Stock, Tiong Teoh, Vasso Terzidou, Samit Kundu, Phillip Bennett, Lynne Sykes
JOURNAL OF REPRODUCTIVE IMMUNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Virology
L. Johanna Gebhard, Zlata Vershinin, Tomas Alarcon-Schumacher, Jerry Eichler, Susanne Erdmann
Summary: N-glycosylation is crucial for cell stability, motility, and virus-host interactions in Archaea. The study investigated the impact of compromised N-glycosylation on virus infection dynamics using a mutant strain of Halorubrum lacusprofundi. The results showed that compromised N-glycosylation had different effects on different viruses, highlighting the significance of N-glycosylation in virus-host interactions.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Chika Kikuchi, Aristotelis Antonopoulos, Shengyang Wang, Tadashi Maemura, Rositsa Karamanska, Chiara Lee, Andrew J. Thompson, Anne Dell, Yoshihiro Kawaoka, Stuart M. Haslam, James C. Paulson
Summary: The evolution of human H3N2 influenza viruses has led to a limited specificity of the hemagglutinin to a subset of glycan receptors, presenting challenges for virus recognition and vaccine production. By studying glyco-engineered cell lines, the authors demonstrate the importance of extended glycan receptors for the growth of recent H3N2 viruses and their relevance to vaccine production.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Yiran Xie, Fangqi Zhao, Nancy Freitag, Sophia Borowski, Yiru Wang, Charlotte Harms, Poh-Choo Pang, Juliette Desforges, Tianyu Wen, Edzard Schwedhelm, Manvendra Singh, Ralf Dechend, Anne Dell, Stuart M. Haslam, Gabriela Dveksler, Mariana G. Garcia, Sandra M. Blois
Summary: Placental abnormalities can lead to impaired fetal growth and poor pregnancy outcomes, such as preeclampsia (PE), with long-term consequences for both mother and offspring. Galectin-1 (gal-1), a glycan-binding protein expressed at the maternal-fetal interface, plays a critical role in maternal adaptation to pregnancy and placenta development. Deficiency of gal-1 during pregnancy is associated with the development of PE, but the specific contributions of maternal- and placental-derived gal-1 to the disease onset are not well understood. This study demonstrates that the lack of gal-1 increases the risk of PE development in a niche-specific manner, and this is accompanied by placental dysfunction primarily influenced by the absence of maternal-derived gal-1. Notably, differential placental glycosylation through Sda-capped N-glycans plays a dominant role in the invasive capacity of trophoblasts triggered by maternal-derived gal-1. These findings highlight the essential role of maternal-derived gal-1 in healthy placenta development and suggest that impairment of the gal-1 signaling pathway within the maternal niche may be a molecular cause of maternal cardiovascular maladaptation during pregnancy.
Article
Microbiology
Zlata Vershinin, Marianna Zaretsky, Ziqiang Guan, Jerry Eichler
Summary: This article describes two key components of the N-glycosylation pathway in the halophilic archaea Halobacterium salinarum. The roles of VNG1053G and VNG1054G, two proteins encoded by genes clustered together with a set of genes demonstrated to encode N-glycosylation pathway components, were investigated. It was determined that VNG1053G is the glycosyltransferase responsible for adding the linking glucose, while VNG1054G is the flippase that translocates the lipid-bound tetrasaccharide across the plasma membrane. The absence of VNG1053G or VNG1054G compromises cell growth and motility in Hbt. salinarum, highlighting their importance in N-glycosylation.
FEMS MICROBIOLOGY LETTERS
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Anna Notaro, Marianna Zaretsky, Antonio Molinaro, Cristina De Castro, Jerry Eichler
Summary: Archaea are unique microorganisms that can survive in harsh environments. They have the ability to perform N-glycosylation, which exhibits high diversity in terms of sugar composition and structure.
CARBOHYDRATE RESEARCH
(2023)
Meeting Abstract
Obstetrics & Gynecology
Katherine Mountain, David MacIntyre, Denise Chan, Alice Hyde, Yun Lee, Richard Brown, Anna David, Anne Dell, Ten Feizi, Stuart Haslam, Yan Liu, Holly Lewis, Jane Norman, Sarah Stock, T. G. Teoh, Vasso Terzidou, Samit Kundu, Phillip Bennett, Lynne Sykes
BJOG-AN INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF OBSTETRICS AND GYNAECOLOGY
(2022)