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Efficient plant genome engineering using a probiotic sourced CRISPR-Cas9 system | NComm

Efficient plant genome engineering using a probiotic sourced CRISPR-Cas9 system | NComm | RMH | Scoop.it

Among CRISPR-Cas genome editing systems, Streptococcus pyogenes Cas9 (SpCas9), sourced from a human pathogen, is the most widely used. Here, through in silico data mining, we have established an efficient plant genome engineering system using CRISPR-Cas9 from probiotic Lactobacillus rhamnosus. We have confirmed the predicted 5’-NGAAA-3’ PAM via a bacterial PAM depletion assay and showcased its exceptional editing efficiency in rice, wheat, tomato, and Larix cells, surpassing LbCas12a, SpCas9-NG, and SpRY when targeting the identical sequences. In stable rice lines, LrCas9 facilitates multiplexed gene knockout through coding sequence editing and achieves gene knockdown via targeted promoter deletion, demonstrating high specificity. We have also developed LrCas9-derived cytosine and adenine base editors, expanding base editing capabilities. Finally, by harnessing LrCas9’s A/T-rich PAM targeting preference, we have created efficient CRISPR interference and activation systems in plants. Together, our work establishes CRISPR-LrCas9 as an efficient and user-friendly genome engineering tool for diverse applications in crops and beyond. In the field of plant genome engineering, new nucleases with improved editing efficiency and alterative PAM requirements are needed. Here, the authors report a probiotic sourced CRISPR-LrCas9 system with similar PAM requirement to Cas12a and show its high efficiencies in various genome editing applications.

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Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi enhance nitrogen acquisition from, but not carbon loss of, organic matter in soil | Nphy

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi enhance nitrogen acquisition from, but not carbon loss of, organic matter in soil | Nphy | RMH | Scoop.it

The effect of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) on decomposition can be regulated by their role in plant nitrogen acquisition due to their obligate biotrophic lifestyle. However, few studies have addressed the relationship between these two processes.  We conducted an experiment using mycorrhizal-defective mutants and wild-types of two plant species with 13C and 15N dual-labelled litter as tracers. A meta-analysis of related studies was also performed to test the generality of the experimental results.  Both our experiment and meta-analysis found that AMF enhanced plant N acquisition from organic substrates, while substrate N and C remaining in the soil were not significantly reduced. We propose that AMF may reduce N loss from the system, which retains substrate N for plant uptake. Under N limitation, AMF may stimulate the deamination of organic substrates or selective mining of N-rich soil organic matter. In addition, our meta-analysis found significant influences of experimental designs on the observed outcomes.

We conclude that AMF may facilitate the decoupling between plant N acquisition from, and C loss of, organic materials. However, more studies that simultaneously trace C and N allocation from organic substrates are needed to elucidate the underlying mechanisms.

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CRISPR-Cas13a as a next-generation tool for rapid and precise plant RNA virus diagnostics | Pmet

CRISPR-Cas13a as a next-generation tool for rapid and precise plant RNA virus diagnostics | Pmet | RMH | Scoop.it

Plant viruses are among the most serious threats to global agriculture, causing significant yield losses and jeopardizing food security. Identifying these viruses is crucial to prevent widespread crop damage and ensure effective management. CRISPR-Cas13a, a subtype of the RNA-targeting Cas13 family, has emerged as a transformative tool in molecular diagnostics, specifically tailored to detect these plant RNA viruses with unparalleled precision. Unlike traditional methods such as ELISA and RT-PCR, which are often limited by sensitivity, equipment dependency, and long processing times, Cas13a offers exceptional specificity and attomolar-level sensitivity. Its RNA-guided collateral cleavage mechanism allows signal amplification, making it particularly suitable for field-deployable diagnostics. Recent advances in Cas13 engineering, including compact variants such as Cas13bt3 and Cas13Y, have further improved its delivery efficiency and minimized immune responses, enhancing its agricultural applications. Integration with amplification methods like LAMP and innovative biosensor platforms like graphene-based and electrochemical systems further enhances its diagnostic potential. While challenges remain, including off-target effects, reagent stability, and scalability, innovations in CRISPR RNA (crRNA) design, reagent encapsulation, and microfluidic technologies are actively addressing these barriers. CRISPR-Cas13a represents a cutting-edge solution for rapid, accurate, and accessible plant virus diagnostics, providing a powerful safeguard for crop yields and global food security.

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Engineered transcription factor-binding arrays for DNA-based gene expression control in mammalian cells | Tin

Engineered transcription factor-binding arrays for DNA-based gene expression control in mammalian cells | Tin | RMH | Scoop.it
Tools that manipulate gene expression in mammalian cells without any additional expression are critical for cell engineering applications. Here, we demonstrate the use of arrays of transcription factor (TF) recognition elements (REs) as DNA tools for controlling gene expression. We first demonstrate that TetR-based RE arrays can alter synthetic gene circuit performance. We then open the approach to any TF with a known binding site by developing a new technique called Cloning Troublesome Repeats in Loops (CTRL), which can assemble plasmids with up to 256 RE repeats. Transfection of custom RE array plasmids assembled by CTRL into mammalian cells modifies host cell gene regulation by sequestration of TFs of interest and can sequester both synthetic and native TFs, offering applications in the control of gene circuits and for directing cell fate. This work advances our ability to assemble repetitive DNA arrays and shows how TF-binding RE arrays expand possibilities in mammalian cell engineering.
?'s insight:

ellis t, ceroni, 2st, tool, decoy

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June 9, 11:27 PM
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Robust Synthetic Biology Toolkit to Advance Carboxysome Study and Redesign | asb

Robust Synthetic Biology Toolkit to Advance Carboxysome Study and Redesign | asb | RMH | Scoop.it

Carboxysomes are polyhedral protein organelles that microorganisms use to facilitate carbon dioxide assimilation. They are composed of a modular protein shell that envelops an enzymatic core mainly composed of physically coupled Rubisco and carbonic anhydrase. While the modular construction principles of carboxysomes make them attractive targets as customizable metabolic platforms, their size and complexity can be a hindrance. In this work, we design and validate a plasmid set, the pXpressome toolkit, in which α-carboxysomes are robustly expressed and remain intact and functional after purification. We tested this toolkit by introducing mutations that influence carboxysome structure and performance. We find that deletion of vertex-capping genes results in formation of larger carboxysomes, while deletion of facet forming genes produces smaller particles, suggesting that adjusting the ratio of these proteins can rationally affect morphology. Through a series of fluorescently labeled constructs, we observe that this toolkit leads to more uniform expression and better cell health than previously published carboxysome expression systems. Overall, the pXpressome toolkit facilitates the study and redesign of carboxysomes with robust performance and improved phenotype uniformity. The pXpressome toolkit will support efforts to remodel carboxysomes for enhanced carbon fixation or serve as a platform for other nanoencapsulation goals.

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genetic part

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June 9, 11:06 PM
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Bacterial social interactions in synthetic Bacillus consortia enhance plant growth | iMeta

Bacterial social interactions in synthetic Bacillus consortia enhance plant growth | iMeta | RMH | Scoop.it

Plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) represent a sustainable method to improve crop productivity. Synthetic microbial consortia have emerged as a powerful tool for engineering rhizosphere microbiomes. However, designing functionally stable consortia remains challenging due to an insufficient understanding of bacterial social interactions. In this study, we investigated the effects of Bacillus velezensis SQR9 (i.e., a commercially important PGPR) on social interactions within the rhizosphere community, particularly among Bacillus species. SQR9 inoculation significantly enhanced cucumber plant growth and altered the structure of rhizosphere Bacillus and its related bacterial communities. The results of swarm boundary and carbon utilization assays, revealed that phylogenetically closer Bacillus strains exhibited increased social cooperation and increased metabolic niche overlap. Building on these social interactions, we designed 30 consortia comprising both highly related (HR) and moderately related (MR) types across four richness levels (1, 2, 3, and 4 strains), with MR consortia demonstrating superior PGP effects through enhanced plant growth, root colonization, indole-3-acetic acid production, and siderophore production, than the HR consortia. Expanding these findings to 300 consortia across four richness levels (1, 2, 4, and 8 strains) confirmed enhanced PGP effects in MR consortia with increasing richness. These findings highlight the importance of bacterial interactions and phylogenetic relationships in shaping rhizosphere communities and designing synthetic microbial consortia. Specifically, this study provides a framework for assembling Bacillus consortia that enhance cooperation, which would aid in improving their stability and effectiveness in agricultural applications.

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Methylobacterium extorquens PA1 utilizes multiple strategies to maintain formaldehyde homeostasis during methylotrophic growth | PLOS

Methylobacterium extorquens PA1 utilizes multiple strategies to maintain formaldehyde homeostasis during methylotrophic growth | PLOS | RMH | Scoop.it

Metabolic homeostasis is a central organizing principle of physiology whereby dynamic processes work to maintain a balanced internal state. Highly reactive essential metabolites are ideally maintained at equilibrium to prevent cellular damage. In the facultative methylotrophic bacterium Methylobacterium extorquens PA1, the utilization of one-carbon growth substrates, including methanol, generates formaldehyde as an obligate intermediate. Formaldehyde is highly chemically reactive and capable of damaging various biomolecules, making formaldehyde homeostasis critical during methylotrophic growth. However, homeostatic mechanisms that govern formaldehyde balance, which is readily perturbed upon transitioning to methylotrophic growth substrates, have remained elusive. Here we describe how a formaldehyde-sensing protein EfgA, a formaldehyde-responsive MarR-like regulator TtmR, and lanthanide-mediated methylotrophy together impact formaldehyde balance and one-carbon metabolism more broadly when cells are transitioning to growth on formaldehyde-generating one-carbon sources. We found that cells lacking efgA or ttmR are unable to maintain formaldehyde balance during various carbon source transitions resulting in elevated extracellular formaldehyde concentrations and an extended lag phase. In strains lacking efgA, we showed that inflated intracellular formaldehyde pools were accompanied by decreased cell viability, while the loss of ttmR resulted in the loss of one-carbon metabolites to the extracellular space. Additionally, we found less severe formaldehyde imbalances in the presence of lanthanides, even in the absence of efgA and ttmR. This was partly due to the activation of exaF, a lanthanide-dependent alcohol dehydrogenase that served as an alternative formaldehyde-detoxifying system that lessened the necessity of ttmR for maintaining formaldehyde homeostasis. Overall, our data demonstrated that efgA has a primary role in formaldehyde homeostasis in modulating intracellular formaldehyde pools, while ttmR is secondary, preventing carbon loss to the extracellular space. These results led us to develop a model of formaldehyde homeostasis involving formaldehyde sensing, growth arrest, compartmentalization, and auxiliary detoxification systems. This work deepens our understanding of how physiological factors impact biological formaldehyde homeostasis during transient metabolic imbalances of this universal cellular toxin.

?'s insight:

formaldehyde sensor

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June 9, 10:41 PM
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Post-transcriptional modular synthetic receptors | Ncb

Post-transcriptional modular synthetic receptors | Ncb | RMH | Scoop.it

Inspired by the power of transcriptional synthetic receptors and hoping to complement them to expand the toolbox for cell engineering, we establish LIDAR (Ligand-Induced Dimerization-Activating RNA editing), a modular post-transcriptional synthetic receptor platform that harnesses RNA editing by adenosine deaminases acting on RNA. LIDAR is compatible with various receptor architectures in different cellular contexts and enables the sensing of diverse ligands and the production of functional outputs. Furthermore, LIDAR can sense orthogonal signals in the same cell and produce synthetic spatial patterns, potentially enabling the programming of complex multicellular behaviors. Lastly, LIDAR is compatible with compact encoding and can be delivered as synthetic mRNA. Thus, LIDAR expands the family of synthetic receptors, holding the promise to empower basic research and therapeutic applications. Zhang, Mille-Fragoso and colleagues developed a synthetic receptor platform named LIDAR (Ligand-Induced Dimerization-Activating RNA editing), which enables ligand-responsive gene regulation without the need of DNA promoters and is, thus, compatible with mRNA delivery.

?'s insight:

gao x, we harnessed the recruitment of β-arrestin 2 (ARRB2) to the phosphorylated C-terminal tail of a G-protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) to create a GPCR-based LIDAR (gLIDAR).

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June 9, 10:25 PM
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Plant specialised metabolites modulate the molecular signatures of host- bacteria and bacteria-bacteria interactions | Brvp

Plant specialised metabolites modulate the molecular signatures of host- bacteria and bacteria-bacteria interactions | Brvp | RMH | Scoop.it

Plants participate in intricate interactions with a multitude of microorganisms, many of which also influence each other. This holobiont is situated in a chemical soil environment that is defined, in parts, by the specialized metabolite legacy of proximal and preceding organisms, including other plants. Here, we investigated the influence of external plant-derived specialised metabolites on the interactions among root-associated bacterial strains, and between these strains and a plant host. Using benzoxazinoids and their derivatives as a model in both simplified pairwise experiments and more complex multi-organism analyses, we show that these chemicals can modulate bacteria-bacteria, as well as bacteria-plant interactions. While the chemical environment alone had little effect on the plant at the molecular level, it differentially affected plant chemical defences, immunity, and sugar transport when combined with single-isolate or micro-community inoculums. Our study underlines the importance of the chemical environment in modulating organismic interactions and illustrates the value of combining reduced-complexity, bottom-up reconstruction approaches with top-down holobiont profiling.

?'s insight:

1str

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June 9, 3:45 PM
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Posttranslational modifications of heterologous proteins expressed in Nicotiana benthamiana | pbj

Posttranslational modifications of heterologous proteins expressed in Nicotiana benthamiana | pbj | RMH | Scoop.it

The success of Nicotiana benthamiana as a workhorse for heterologous protein production is closely linked to its accessibility and tolerance to genetic manipulation, allowing efficient engineering of posttranslational protein modifications (PTMs) that are critical for the function and stability of heterologous proteins. Therefore, control over PTMs has a significant impact on the quality of a product. Most recombinant protein therapeutics are glycosylated, and glycosylation is the most common and complex PTM. The machinery for initiating N-glycosylation is largely conserved in N. benthamiana, and there are generally fewer glycosyltransferases involved in modifying N-glycans compared to human cells. This results in less processed and more homogeneous complex N-glycans, which serve as acceptors for various extensions and the generation of tailored N-glycans. O-glycosylation is different and quite diverse in plants. Recent advances in genome editing have resulted in N. benthamiana with greatly reduced plant-specific modifications, making it a valuable tool for studying O-glycosylation and the production of heterologous proteins with human-type O-glycans. In contrast to glycosylation, there are far fewer studies focusing on other PTMs, and the engineering of these modifications in plants is still in its infancy. Noteworthy exceptions include the successful tyrosine sulfation of antibodies and the use of the human protease furin for the activation of recombinant proteins, achieved through a controlled proteolytic processing approach. In summary, recent advances in genome editing and pathway engineering by transient or stable co-expression of multiple foreign genes in N. benthamiana lay the foundation for novel protein-based products with optimized functions.

?'s insight:

m-1str

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June 9, 3:28 PM
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Toehold Switch-Based Approach for Engineering Acid-Tolerance Modules to Enhance Production Robustness of Industrial E. coli Strains at Low pH | mbt

Toehold Switch-Based Approach for Engineering Acid-Tolerance Modules to Enhance Production Robustness of Industrial E. coli Strains at Low pH | mbt | RMH | Scoop.it

Enhancing acid tolerance of industrial microorganisms is critical for improving fermentation efficiency and sustainability. This study presents a synthetic biology approach that employs toehold switch-based acid-tolerance modules to engineer acid-tolerant strains. This toehold switch-based approach enables the construction of modules consisting of a trigger block and a switch block, generating a synthetic module library of ~105 constructs that integrate four acid-responsive promoters and 18 acid-resistance genes. Through stepwise evaluation, we identified two best synthetic modules, RE-6 and RE-38, which enabled an industrial lysine-producing strain to maintain lysine titers and yields at pH 5.5 comparable to those observed in the parent strain at pH 6.8. Transcriptional analyses revealed that upregulation of key acid-resistance genes involved in protein quality control, reactive oxygen species scavenging and redox homeostasis contributed to the enhanced acid tolerance of the engineered strains. Our study offers a powerful toehold switch-based approach for constructing synthetic modules of interest, particularly for enhancing the robustness and productivity of industrial strains.

?'s insight:

pH sensor, trigger RNA cassettes under the control of acid-responsive promoters with varying strengths.

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June 9, 11:09 AM
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Simulated microgravity triggers a membrane adaptation to stress in E. coli REL606 | BMC

Simulated microgravity triggers a membrane adaptation to stress in E. coli REL606 | BMC | RMH | Scoop.it

Investigating the evolution of Escherichia coli in microgravity offers valuable insights into microbial adaptation to extreme environments. Here the effects of simulated microgravity (SµG) on gene expression and genome evolution of E. coli REL606, a strain evolved terrestrially for 35 years, is explored. The transcriptomic changes for glucose-limited and glucose-replete conditions over 24 h illustrate that SµG increased the expression of genes involved in stress response, biofilm, and metabolism. A greater number of differentially expressed genes related to the general stress response (GSR) and biofilm formation is observed in simulated microgravity cultures under glucose-limited conditions in comparison to glucose-replete conditions. Longer term SµG culture under glucose-limited conditions led to the accumulation of unique mutations when compared to control cultures, particularly in the mraZ/fruR intergenic region and the elyC gene, suggesting changes in peptidoglycan and enterobacterial common antigen (ECA) production. These findings highlight the physiological and genomic adaptations of E. coli to microgravity, offering a foundation for future research into the long-term effects of space conditions on bacterial evolution.

?'s insight:

methods gravity, The experiment was performed in a Percival chamber set to 25 °C and 95% relative humidity. HARVs were rotated at 20 rpm [30], with no forced air from the RWV.

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June 9, 12:55 AM
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Oxygen intrusions sustain aerobic nitrite-oxidizing bacteria in anoxic marine zones | sci

Oxygen intrusions sustain aerobic nitrite-oxidizing bacteria in anoxic marine zones | sci | RMH | Scoop.it
Anaerobic metabolisms are thought to dominate nitrogen cycling in anoxic marine zones (AMZs). However, thriving populations of aerobic nitrite-oxidizing bacteria (NOB) in AMZs challenge this assumption and remain unexplained. Using theory and modeling, we show how periodic oxygen intrusions sustain aerobic NOB in AMZs alongside more competitive aerobic heterotrophs. Ecological theory, supported by numerical simulations and genomics, frames NOB as opportunists exploiting a fleeting supply of oxygen. Consistent with in situ observations, simulated NOB contribute substantially to total oxygen consumption at AMZ boundaries, which implies that NOB may provide a major stabilizing feedback to AMZs. Fine-scale ocean currents increase the metabolic diversity in AMZs, which could stabilize AMZ volume under climate change.
?'s insight:

O2 intrusions (1) stimulate nitrite oxidation (2) and gains in NOB biomass, which in turn elevates O2 consumption (3) and a more rapid return to anoxia, thereby supporting production of nitrite through anaerobic nitrate reduction (4), which maintains the ability to buffer O2 intrusions.

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June 9, 12:00 AM
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Metabolic tuning enables immediate adaptation to energy stress in yeast | bioRxiv

Metabolic tuning enables immediate adaptation to energy stress in yeast | bioRxiv | RMH | Scoop.it

In Saccharomyces cerevisiae, glucose depletion induces metabolic reprogramming through widespread transcriptional and translational reorganization. We report that initial, very rapid translational silencing is driven by a specialized metabolic mechanism. Following glucose withdrawal, intracellular NTP levels drop drastically over 30 sec, before stabilizing at a regulated, post-stress set-point. Programmed translational control results from the differential NTP affinities of key enzymes; ATP falls below the (high) binding constants for DEAD-box helicase initiation factors, including eIF4A, driving mRNA release and blocking 80S assembly. Contrastingly, GTP levels always greatly exceed the (low) binding constants for elongation factors, allowing ribosome run-off and orderly translation shutdown. Translation initiation is immediately lost on all pre-existing mRNAs, before being preferentially re-established on newly synthesized, upregulated stress-response transcripts. We conclude that enzymatic constants are tuned for metabolic remodeling. This response counters energy depletion, rather than being glucose-specific, allowing hierarchical inhibition of energy-consuming processes on very rapid timescales.

?'s insight:

In the absence of glucose, flux through the glycolytic pathway is stopped immediately and NTP production falls, while usage continues, leading to rapid depletion. ATP levels fall below the binding constants for the low affinity DEAD-box helicases required for initiation, displacing these ATP-dependent RNA-binding protein from transcripts. Comparatively, elongation factors are high affinity and retain GTP binding, allowing translation to continue from initiated ribosomes. In the absence of recycling, polysomes run off leaving free translation machinery and transcripts.

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Bacterial extracellular vesicles as a tunable platform for vaginal drug delivery | Brvm

Bacterial extracellular vesicles as a tunable platform for vaginal drug delivery | Brvm | RMH | Scoop.it

There is a critical gap in the development of new therapeutic platforms designed to treat gynecologic and obstetric diseases. Compared to systemic drug delivery, vaginal drug administration of nanoparticle formulations limits off-target side effects while increasing therapeutic concentration in target tissues, showing promise for clinical translation. However, these formulations suffer from limited scalability, high-cost reagents, and long optimization timelines. Recent work highlights the potential of bacterial extracellular vesicles (bEVs) as a low-cost, tunable platform for therapeutic applications. Here, we evaluate bEVs as a therapeutic carrier for vaginal drug delivery. We demonstrate the loading of the model protein moxNeonGreen into Escherichia coli Nissle 1917 bEVs. By optimizing growth parameters, we increase protein loading into bEVs. We evaluate the effect of bEVs on the vaginal microenvironment, and observe no negative impact on vaginal epithelial cells, endocervical cells, or vaginal bacteria in vitro. Additionally, we observe the retention of bEVs in the murine female reproductive tract for more than six hours. This study provides a framework for using genetically engineered bEVs to rapidly generate customizable therapies for a range of gynecologic and obstetric conditions, addressing longstanding challenges in women's health therapeutics. omv

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Methane-fed microbial communities enriched from field-grown rice support diverse heterotrophic bacteria | Brvm

Rice paddies naturally host significant populations of methanotrophs, due to the production of methane in flooded soils. However, relatively little is known about how the activity of these bacteria impacts the structure of the broader microbial community in this important agricultural environment. To address this question, we passaged 51 microbial aerobic enrichment cultures from rice rhizosphere, root, and stem samples in a chemically-defined medium with methane as sole electron donor. We profiled the cultures over time by 16S rDNA amplicon sequencing and sequenced the genomes of 34 isolates from the enrichments to gain functional insights. Notably, taxa whose relative abundance increased during community growth on methane represented more than a dozen families, many of which are not known to utilize methane or other one-carbon substrates. Despite the selective pressure imposed by the culture condition, the final community structures were taxonomically varied rather than converging to a common composition, and genomic analysis of the sequenced isolates revealed considerable variation in likely carbon source utilization repertoires. Taken together, these findings support the view that methanotrophy represents a key link in the microbial food web of rice fields, with the potential for downstream effects on the abundance and activity of a wide range of community members.

?'s insight:

isolation

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Small DNA elements can act as both insulators and silencers in plants | tpc

Small DNA elements can act as both insulators and silencers in plants | tpc | RMH | Scoop.it

Insulators are cis-regulatory elements that separate transcriptional units, whereas silencers are elements that repress transcription regardless of their position. In plants, these elements remain largely uncharacterized. Here, we use the massively parallel reporter assay Plant STARR-seq with short fragments of eight large insulators to identify more than 100 fragments that block enhancer activity. The short fragments can be combined to generate more powerful insulators that abolish the capacity of the strong viral 35S enhancer to activate the 35S minimal promoter. Unexpectedly, when tested upstream of weak enhancers, these fragments act as silencers and repress transcription. Thus, these elements are capable of insulating or repressing transcription, depending on the regulatory context. We validate our findings in stable transgenic Arabidopsis thaliana, maize (Zea mays), and rice (Oryza sativa) plants. The short elements identified here should be useful building blocks for plant biotechnology.

?'s insight:

plant gene exp control

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June 9, 11:13 PM
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From genes to function: regulation, maturation, and evolution of cytochrome c nitrite reductase in nitrate reduction to ammonium | aem

From genes to function: regulation, maturation, and evolution of cytochrome c nitrite reductase in nitrate reduction to ammonium | aem | RMH | Scoop.it
The dissimilatory nitrate reduction to ammonium pathway converts nitrate to ammonium, a vital reaction in the global nitrogen cycle. The second step of the pathway is performed by cytochrome c nitrite reductase (NrfA), a soluble, periplasmic cytochrome responsible for the reduction of nitrite to ammonium. The pentaheme NrfA catalyzes this six-electron and eight-proton reduction of nitrite at a single active site with the help of its quinol oxidase partners. In this review, we discuss our current understanding of (i) the structure, homology, and evolution of both NrfA and its redox partners, (ii) the regulation of the nrf operon, and (iii) the maturation of NrfA proteins via unique cytochrome maturation pathways.
?'s insight:

nitrogen cycle

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June 9, 11:01 PM
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A comprehensive analysis of human gut microbial biosynthesis gene clusters unveiling the dominant role of Paenibacillus | mSys

A comprehensive analysis of human gut microbial biosynthesis gene clusters unveiling the dominant role of Paenibacillus | mSys | RMH | Scoop.it
The secondary metabolites produced by the gut microbiota serve as crucial signaling molecules and substrates for gastrointestinal metabolic reactions, thereby playing a pivotal role in human physiological and pathological processes. In this study, we explore the complex symbiotic relationship between the gut microbiota and the human host by systematically annotating the biosynthetic gene clusters (BGCs) across 4,744 human gut microbiota genomes, sourced from the Unified Human Gastrointestinal Genome database. Our comprehensive analysis compares the differential biosynthetic potentials of microbiota from diverse continents and phyla while also elucidating the biosynthetic profiles of gut archaea. Notably, our findings identify Paenibacillus as a dominant genus within the human gut microbiota, characterized by its extensive biosynthetic capacity. This study presents the first global atlas of BGCs within the human gut microbiome, offering valuable insights into gut-derived secondary metabolic pathways and their intricate interactions with host physiology. These results lay the groundwork for future investigations into the microbiota’s role in health and disease, underscoring the importance of understanding microbiota-derived metabolites in microbiology and gastroenterology.
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June 9, 10:47 PM
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Evolutionary Trajectories of Methionine Metabolism in Mycobacterium and Its Application to Engineer a Vitamin B12 Whole-Cell Ribosensor | mbt

Evolutionary Trajectories of Methionine Metabolism in Mycobacterium and Its Application to Engineer a Vitamin B12 Whole-Cell Ribosensor | mbt | RMH | Scoop.it

Vitamin B12 metabolism differs among members of the Mycobacterium genus. While non-tuberculous mycobacterial species are B12 producers, tuberculous mycobacteria lack endogenous production and rely on the host supply of this vitamin. Here, we hypothesise that this discrepant phenotype might impact the function of B12-dependent enzymes. We specifically focused on methionine synthases MetH and MetE. Both enzymes showed genetic differences in the Mycobacterium genus, resulting in a clear divergence between tuberculous and non-tuberculous species. Unexpectedly, the dependency of MetH on B12 was indistinguishable between M. tuberculosis and M. smegmatis, assayed as representative members of tuberculous and non-tuberculous species, respectively. However, MetE showed robust phenotypic differences between these species, displaying a finely tuned B12 regulation in M. tuberculosis, in contrast to a more permissive regulation in M. smegmatis. Both orthologs differ in the vitamin isoform specifically recognized, and the B12 threshold level required for MetE regulation. Since the B12 regulatory element in the metE gene is an RNA riboswitch, we analysed the polymorphisms in this region, with a special focus on loss-of-function mutations identified after in vitro selection. We used this information to engineer a whole-cell B12 biosensor in the genetically fastidious Mycobacterium genus, being able to detect vitamin B12 concentration in the range of micrograms per millilitre.

?'s insight:

vitamin sensor, Construction of a whole-cell B12 ribosensor in Mycobacterium.

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June 9, 10:39 PM
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Transposon-plasmid nesting enables fast response to fluctuating environments | Brveco

Transposon-plasmid nesting enables fast response to fluctuating environments | Brveco | RMH | Scoop.it

Mobile genetic elements (MGEs) play a critical role in shaping the response and evolution of microbial populations and communities. Despite distinct maintenance mechanisms, different types of MGEs can form nested structures. Using bioinformatics analysis of 14,338 plasmids in the NCBI RefSeq database, we found transposons to be widespread and significantly enriched on plasmids relative to chromosomes, highlighting the prevalence of transposon-plasmid nesting. We hypothesized that this nested structure provides unique adaptive advantages by combining transposition-driven genetic mobility with plasmid-mediated copy number amplification. Using engineered transposon systems, we demonstrated that nesting enables rapid and tunable responses of transposon-encoded genes in fluctuating environments. Specifically, transposition maintains a reservoir of the encoded genes, while plasmid copy number fluctuations further amplify the dynamic range of gene dosage, thus enhancing the response speed and stability of transposon-encoded traits. Our findings demonstrate an adaptive benefit of transposon-plasmid nesting and provide insights into their ecological persistence and evolutionary success.

?'s insight:

you l, the transposon copy number (TCN) can be amplified by transposition in the presence of selection and reversed in the absence of section,

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June 9, 9:51 PM
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Integrating Microchannels and Flows into 3D Printable Granular Hydrogel Matrices | Brvt

Integrating Microchannels and Flows into 3D Printable Granular Hydrogel Matrices | Brvt | RMH | Scoop.it

Microfluidic systems incorporating or contained within hydrogels are important in creating microphysiological systems (MPSs). Often naturally derived hydrogels are used, as their inherent bioactivity supports dynamic cellular behaviors. Hydrogel biomaterials that are partly or fully synthetic are desirable in engineering systems with specific, designed properties, though they typically lack bioactive features of natural materials without additional molecular design. In particular, permissive biomaterials enable physiologically relevant dynamic cellular behaviors. Granular hydrogels offer inherent permissiveness, owning to porosity between particles and dynamic behaviors in the absence of interparticle crosslinking. However, applying these in MPS to model tissues requires stable channels to perfuse fluid in these dynamic systems. Here, we establish channels within granular hydrogels to enable perfusion through spatially controlled interparticle crosslinking. Selective crosslinking allowed for the formation of stable channels while allowing the microparticles of a granular hydrogel between two channels to remained uncrosslinked. This allowed spatiotemporal control of signals within an environment established from microparticles without interparticle crosslinking. Fluorescently tagged molecules allowed for the visualization of controlled soluble gradients between two channels within the device. Additionally, embedded 3D printing processes can be used to specify material composition within the system, demonstrating integrated technology for engineering well-defined hydrogel systems. Integrated microfluidic-based control over soluble signals in a system that is compatible with 3D printing processes will establish a basis for building MPSs for broad applications, and the ability to maintain granular systems in culture without interparticle crosslinking will enable design of synthetic hydrogels that access unique dynamic properties within these systems.

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June 9, 3:36 PM
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Quantifying Protein-Protein Interaction with a Spatial Attention Kinetic Graph Neural Network | Brvbi

Quantifying Protein-Protein Interaction with a Spatial Attention Kinetic Graph Neural Network | Brvbi | RMH | Scoop.it

Accurate prioritization of near-native protein-protein interaction (PPI) models remains a major bottleneck in structural biology. Here we present SAKE-PP, a physics-inspired, spatial-attention equivariant graph neural network that directly regresses interface RMSD (iRMSD) without any native references. Trained on docking decoys generated through our novel hierarchical sampling strategy applied to the PDBBind dataset, SAKE-PP combines force-field-like attention with Laplacian-eigenvector orientation to couple local interaction forces with global topology. On the 2024PDB benchmark comprising 176 heterodimers, SAKE-PP demonstrates effective optimization and selection of AF3 decoys, achieving improvements of 13.75% based on iRMSD statistics and 12.5% based on DockQ scores. It consistently outperforms the AF3 ranking score across multiple metrics, including overlap, hit rate, and correlation. In zero-shot evaluation of 139 antibody-antigen complexes, SAKE-PP increases the score-iRMSD correlation by 0.4. By unifying geometric deep learning with physics-based realism, SAKE-PP provides a robust, plug-and-play scoring function that streamlines reliable PPI evaluation and accelerates downstream structure-guided drug-design workflows.

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Turning over a new leaf: innovative pest control from a materials science perspective | rsc

Turning over a new leaf: innovative pest control from a materials science perspective | rsc | RMH | Scoop.it

The growing demand for food due to a global population increase has made the use of pesticides in agriculture unavoidable despite their various harmful side effects. Driven by stricter legislation, nations are now compelled to find alternatives. This situation led to accelerated research around the world, focusing on developing new chemistries to enhance the environmental safety of pesticides. In recent years, bioinspired strategies of pest control have emerged as alternatives to the development of new synthetic pesticides. In order to design innovative eco-friendly pest management techniques, a thorough understanding of naturally existing physical and chemical defences in plants is needed. Building upon this knowledge, material science provides innovative strategies for designing physical barriers, biomimetic adhesives, and targeted delivery systems that go beyond traditional chemical approaches. This tutorial review explores the intricate relationships between plants and insects, focusing on natural defence mechanisms such as plant cuticles, trichomes, and thigmonasty. We also review advances in synthetic pesticide use, including enhanced adhesion and controlled release formulations. In addition, we delve into advances in other integrated pest management domains, discussing the potential of bioinspired surfaces and biological control methods. This overview aims to foster comprehensive understanding and interdisciplinary approaches, highlighting the pivotal role of material science in improving sustainable pest control for the future.

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Sensl: a synthetic biology sensor for tracking strigolactone signaling in rice | Nphy

Sensl: a synthetic biology sensor for tracking strigolactone signaling in rice | Nphy | RMH | Scoop.it

Genetically or chemically modifying the SL pathway could significantly alter plant architecture and crop yield of rice through the regulation of shoot branching. SLs can also coordinate with other plant hormones, such as auxin, brassinosteroid, gibberellin, and abscisic acid (ABA), to regulate rice growth and metabolic processes. Moreover, SLs have been shown to participate in integrating N, Pi, as well as sucrose signals to influence rice development and environmental adaptation. it is necessary to develop precise molecular tools for real-time monitoring of SL signaling dynamics in rice. Engineering of the Sensl biosensor in rice. (a) schematic of Sensl biosensor design. the action mechanism of Sensl in rice, in which firefly luciferase (FLUC) co-degrades with OsD53 after sensing bioactive strigolactones (SLs) via the 26S proteasome pathway. D14 LBP refers to the D14 ligand-binding pocket. 

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strigolactone sensor

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Convergent expansions of keystone gene families drive metabolic innovation in Saccharomycotina yeasts | pnas

Convergent expansions of keystone gene families drive metabolic innovation in Saccharomycotina yeasts | pnas | RMH | Scoop.it
Many remarkable phenotypes have repeatedly occurred across vast evolutionary distances. When convergent traits emerge on the tree of life, they are sometimes driven by the same underlying gene families, while other times, many different gene families are involved. Conversely, a gene family may be repeatedly recruited for a single trait or many different traits. To understand the general rules governing convergence at both genomic and phenotypic levels, we systematically tested associations between 56 binary metabolic traits and gene count in 14,785 gene families from 993 Saccharomycotina yeasts. Using a recently developed phylogenetic approach that reduces spurious correlations, we found that gene family expansion and contraction were significantly linked to trait gain and loss in 45/56 (80%) traits. While 595/739 (81%) significant gene families were associated with only one trait, we also identified several “keystone” gene families that were significantly associated with up to 13/56 (23%) of all traits. Strikingly, most of these families are known to encode metabolic enzymes and transporters, including all members of the industrially relevant MAL tose fermentation loci in the baker’s yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. These results indicate that convergent evolution on the gene family level may be more widespread across deeper timescales than previously believed.
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Convergent evolution occurs when the same trait arises independently on the tree of life.

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