Microreviews, Review
Structural insights into the architecture and assembly of eukaryotic flagella
Narcis-Adrian Petriman1 and Esben Lorentzen1
Cilia and flagella are key structures in motility and signaling. This review highlights recent findings of cryo-EM studies that have mapped the structure of axonemal microtubules in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii, revealing over 30 associated proteins as well as recent researcht which focused on the trafficking complexes that transport components between the cell body and cilium.
Erythrocyte phospho-signalling is dynamically altered during infection with Plasmodium falciparum
Jack D. Adderley1 and Christian Doerig1
This article refers to the study "Analysis of erythrocyte signalling pathways during Plasmodium falciparum infection identifies targets for host-directed antimalarial intervention" by Adderley et al. (Nat Commun, 2020) that investigates how Plasmodium falciparum malaria parasites influence red blood cells. By tracking hanges in over 800 human proteins at different parasite stages they confirmed activation of the PAK-MEK pathway and discovered significant changes, particularly during the trophozoite stage. This suggests that kinases activated by the infection could be targeted for new antimalarial therapies.
Plant and fungal products that extend lifespan in Caenorhabditis elegans
Jan Martel1,2, Cheng-Yeu Wu1-3, Hsin-Hsin Peng1,2,4, Yun-Fei Ko2,5,6, Hung-Chi Yang7, John D. Young5 and David M. Ojcius1,2,8
Caenorhabditis elegans' lifespan is extended by plant and fungal extracts activating pathways like autophagy and mitochondrial biogenesis. Low to moderate concentrations promote longevity, while high doses are harmful. This review explores the health benefits of these substances in humans.
A new role for proteins subunits of RNase P: stabilization of the telomerase holoenzyme
P. Daniela Garcia1 and Virginia A. Zakian2
This article refers to the study "Stability and Nuclear Localization of Yeast Telomerase Depend on Protein Components of RNase P/MRP", by Garcia et al. (Nat Commun, 2020), showing that 3 essential proteins in Saccharomyces cerevisiae are vital for telomerase assembly and nuclear localization. In their mutants, telomerase is less mature, and telomeres are shorter. TLC1 is properly folded but remains in the cytoplasm, rather than moving to the nucleus, where it maintains telomeres.
Lipid droplet biogenesis from specialized ER subdomains
Vineet Choudhary1 and Roger Schneiter2
This article refers to the paper "Seipin and Nem1 establish discrete ER subdomains to initiate yeast lipid droplet biogenesis" by Choudhary et al. (J Cell Biol, 2020), which deals with the formation of lipid droplets (LDs) at specific ER sites marked by the proteins Fld1 and Nem1. These proteins recruit enzymes such as Lro1 and Dga1 to initiate fat storage. Together, Fld1 and Nem1 define where LDs form by organising key proteins and lipids needed for their biogenesis.
From the Uncharacterized Protein Family 0016 to the GDT1 family: Molecular insights into a newly-characterized family of cation secondary transporters
Louise Thines1, Jiri Stribny1 and Pierre Morsomme1
This review outlines how the formerly uncharacterized UPF0016 family, now known as the Gdt1 family, plays key roles in cation transport - especially Mn²⁺ - across species from bacteria to humans. These proteins are crucial for processes like glycosylation, photosynthesis, and calcium signaling, with functions linked to their localization in membranes such as the Golgi, chloroplast, and plasma membrane and by that highlighting their evolutionary conservation and physiological relevance, offering insights into their shared and distinct features across organisms.
A broad-spectrum antibiotic adjuvant SLAP-S25: one stone many birds
Meirong Song1 and Kui Zhu1
This article refers to the study "A broad-spectrum antibiotic adjuvant reverses multidrug-resistant Gram-negative pathogens" by Song et al. (Nat Microbiol, 2020), which deals with the growing threat of antibiotic resistance, with few new drugs being developed for decades. The study found that the peptide SLAP-S25 enhances the efficacy of several antibiotics against resistant Gram-negative bacteria by disrupting their membranes, thereby increasing drug uptake. This suggests that bacterial membranes are promising targets for new antibiotic adjuvants.
Hiding in plain sight: vesicle-mediated export and transmission of prion-like proteins
Mehdi Kabani1
This article relates to the study "Glucose availability dictates the export of the soluble and prion forms of Sup35p via periplasmic or extracellular vesicles" by Kabani et al. (Mol Microbiol, 2020) that provides compelling evidence that yeast prions, such as Sup35p in its infectious [PSI⁺] state, can be exported via both extracellular vesicles (EVs) and periplasmic vesicles (PVs), with this export being modulated by environmental glucose levels. The discovery that prion particles are released in high amounts through PVs during glucose starvation adds a new dimension to our understanding of prion transmission and opens up fascinating possibilities for exploring vesicle-mediated spread of protein aggregates in neurodegenerative diseases using yeast as a model system.
Regulation of Cdc42 for polarized growth in budding yeast
Kristi E. Miller1,2, Pil Jung Kang1 and Hay-Oak Park1
This review highlights how studies in budding yeast have revealed a biphasic mechanism of Cdc42 activation that governs cell polarity establishment, with implications for understanding similar processes in mammalian cells and the role of Cdc42 in aging.
Gammaretroviruses tether to mitotic chromatin by directly binding nucleosomal histone proteins
July 24, 2018
In this article, the authors comment on the study "Murine leukemia virus p12 tethers the capsid-containing pre-integration complex to chromatin by binding directly to host nucleosomes in mitosis" by Wanaguruet al. (PLoS Pathog, 2018) that highlights the essential role of the gammaretroviral gag cleavage product, p12, at both early and late stages of the virus life cycle, particularly in the integration of the viral DNA into the host cell chromatin to form a provirus. It also emphasizes the recent findings regarding the N- and C-terminal domains of p12, revealing their direct binding to the viral capsid lattice and nucleosomal histone proteins, respectively, thus elucidating the mechanism by which p12 links the viral pre-integration complex to mitotic chromatin.
Methodologies for in vitro and in vivo evaluation of efficacy of antifungal and antibiofilm agents and surface coatings against fungal biofilms
June 14, 2018
This article highlights the critical importance of accurate susceptibility testing methods and the discovery of novel antifungal and antibiofilm agents in combating invasive fungal infections associated with biofilm formation on medical devices, thereby emphasizing the need for advancements in medical mycology research to address these complex diseases.
Shepherding DNA ends: Rif1 protects telomeres and chromosome breaks
May 17, 2018
This review discusses the conserved mechanisms cells have evolved to protect DNA ends at chromosomal termini and DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs), focusing on the protein Rif1’s roles in telomere homeostasis and DSB repair in eukaryotes. It highlights the intriguing connection between Rif1's involvement in both telomere maintenance and DSB repair, and suggests that excluding end-processing factors may underlie Rif1's diverse biological functions at telomeres and chromosome breaks.
The CRISPR conundrum: evolve and maybe die, or survive and risk stagnation
May 16, 2018
In this article García-Martínez et al. cover how the model bacterium Escherichia coli deals with CRISPR-Cas to tackle the major dilemma of evolution versus survival.
Metabolic disharmony and sibling conflict mediated by T6SS
April 4, 2018
In this article, the authors comment on the study "Physiological Heterogeneity Triggers Sibling Conflict Mediated by the Type VI Secretion System in an Aggregative Multicellular Bacterium" by Troselj et al. (MBio, 2018) discussing that M. xanthus uses T6SS to eliminate less fit cells from their population and identified toxic effector and cognate immunity protein (TsxEI) that mediates this sibling antagonism.
Helicobacter hepaticus polysaccharide induces an anti-inflammatory response in intestinal macrophages
March 22, 2018
In this article, the authors comment on the study "A Large Polysaccharide Produced by Helicobacter hepaticus Induces an Anti-inflammatory Gene Signature in Macrophages. " by Danne et al, (Cell Host Microbe 2017), discussing the interactions between H. hepaticus and intestinal macrophages that promote mutualism.
Endolysosomal pathway activity protects cells from neurotoxic TDP-43
March 21, 2018
In this article, the authors comment on the study "TDP-43 controls lysosomal pathways thereby determining its own clearance and cytotoxicity" by Leibiger et al. (Hum Mol Genet, 2018), proposing that ameliorating endolysosomal pathway activity enhances cell survival in TDP‑43-associated diseases.
Two distinct penicillin binding proteins promote cell division in different Salmonella lifestyles
February 18, 2018
In this article, the authors comment on the study "A Specialized Peptidoglycan Synthase Promotes Salmonella Cell Division inside Host Cells" by Castanheira et al. (mBio, 2017), discussing insights in two distinct penicillin binding proteins that promote cell division in different Salmonella lifestyles.
New perspectives from South-Y-East, not all about deathA report of the 12th lnternational Meeting on Yeast Apoptosis in Bari, Italy, May 14th-18th, 2017
January 16, 2018
In this article Guaragnella et al. report on the 12th International Meeting on Yeast Apoptosis (IMYA12), which was held in Bari, Italy from May 14th to 18th, 2017, where more than 100 participants, among which senior and young scientists from Europe, USA, North Africa and Japan, had an intense and open exchange of achievements and ideas in the field of yeast regulated cell death (RCD).