A novel basolateral type IV secretion model for the CagA oncoprotein of Helicobacter pylori

December 9, 2017

In this article, the authors comment on the study "Helicobacter pylori Employs a Unique Basolateral Type IV Secretion Mechanism for CagA Delivery" by Tegtmeyer et al. (Cell Host Microbe, 2017), discussing that the finding of a T4SS receptor suggests the presence of a sophisticated control mechanism for the injection of CagA and the possible impact of this novel signaling cascade on pathogenesis during infection with Helicobacter pylori.

Yeast quiescence exit swiftness is influenced by cell volume and chronological age

December 6, 2017

Quiescence exit swiftness is crucial not only for micro-organisms in competition for an environmental niche, such as yeast, but also for the maintenance of tissue homeostasis in multicellular species. Here, Laporte et al. explore the effect of replicative and chronological age on Saccharomyces cerevisiae quiescence exit efficiency. Overall, their data illustrate that the quiescent state is a continuum evolving with time, early and deep quiescence being distinguishable by the cell’s proficiency to re-enter the proliferation cycle.

Exploring the mechanism of amebic trogocytosis: the role of amebic lysosomes

December 6, 2017

In this article, the authors comment on the study "Inhibition of Amebic Lysosomal Acidification Blocks Amebic Trogocytosis and Cell Killing" by Gilmartin et al. (MBio, 2017), discussing the the role of amebic lysosomes in Trogocytosis, the intracellular transfer of fragments of cell material.

A versatile plasmid system for reconstitution and analysis of mammalian ubiquitination cascades in yeast

December 5, 2017

In this article Avagliano Trezza et al. describe a versatile vector system that allows the reconstitution of specific ubiquitination cascades in the model eukaryote Saccharomyces cerevisae (baker’s yeast) that provides a versatile tool to study complex post-translational modifications in a cellular setting.

Alcohols enhance the rate of acetic acid diffusion in S. cerevisiae : biophysical mechanisms and implications for acetic acid tolerance

December 1, 2017

Microbial cell factories with the ability to maintain high productivity in the presence of weak organic acids, such as acetic acid, are required in many industrial processes. This study demonstrates that the rate of acetic acid diffusion can be strongly affected by compounds that partition into the cell membrane, and highlights the need for considering interaction effects between compounds in the design of microbial processes.

Mitochondrial energy metabolism is required for lifespan extension by the spastic paraplegia-associated protein spartin

November 30, 2017

This article indicates that spartin, a protein linked to hereditary spastic paraplegias, extends yeast lifespan and reduces age-related damage by associating with mitochondria and interacting with key metabolic proteins, implicating energy metabolism in its protective role during aging.

A new role for the nuclear basket network

November 28, 2017

This article comments on work published by Salas-Pino et al. (J Cell Biol, 2017), which describes a novel function of the fission yeast nuclear basket component - the translocated promoter region (TPR) nucleoporin Alm1 - in proper localization of the proteasome to the nuclear envelope.

A genome-wide screen for FTY720-sensitive mutants reveals genes required for ROS homeostasis

November 27, 2017

Fingolimod hydrochloride (FTY720) is an immune modulator for multiple sclerosis that also induces cancer cell apoptosis through reactive oxygen species generation, with a new study using fission yeast uncovering a gene network related to ROS homeostasis as a possible mechanism of FTY720's toxicity.

VAMP8 mucin exocytosis attenuates intestinal pathogenesis by Entamoeba histolytica

November 24, 2017

This article comments on work published by Cornick et al. (mBio, 2017), which nominates SNARE-mediated exocytosis as the putative mechanism responsible for pathogen-induced mucus secretion from goblet cells.

Untargeted metabolomics confirms and extends the understanding of the impact of aminoimidazole carboxamide ribotide (AICAR) in the metabolic network of Salmonella enterica

November 22, 2017

In Salmonella enterica, aminoimidazole carboxamide ribotide (AICAR) is a purine biosynthetic intermediate and a substrate of the AICAR transformylase/IMP cyclohydrolase (PurH) enzyme. Data herein describe the use of metabolomics to identify the metabolic state of mutant strains and probe the underlying mechanisms used by AICAR to inhibit thiamine synthesis. The results obtained provide a cautionary tale of using metabolite concentrations as the only data to define the physiological state of a bacterial cell.

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