Molecular Biology and Physiology
Research Article | Molecular Biology and PhysiologyMITEAba12, a Novel Mobile Miniature Inverted-Repeat Transposable Element Identified in Acinetobacter baumannii ATCC 17978 and Its Prevalence across the Moraxellaceae FamilyOne of the most important weapons in the armory of Acinetobacter is its impressive genetic plasticity, facilitating rapid genetic mutations and rearrangements as well as integration of foreign determinants carried by mobile genetic elements. Of these, IS are considered one of the key forces shaping bacterial genomes and ultimately evolution. We report the identification of a novel nonautonomous IS-derived element present in...
Editor's Pick Research Article | Molecular Biology and PhysiologyImplementation of a CRISPR-Based System for Gene Regulation in Candida albicansCRISPR technology is a new and efficient way to edit genomes, but it is also an appealing way to regulate gene expression. We have implemented CRISPR as a gene expression platform in Candida albicans using fusions between a Cas9 inactive enzyme and specific repressors or activators and demonstrated its functionality. This will allow future manipulation of complex...
Research Article | Molecular Biology and PhysiologyThe Vacuolar Ca2+ ATPase Pump Pmc1p Is Required for Candida albicans PathogenesisMaintenance of Ca2+ homeostasis is important for fungal cells to respond to a multitude of stresses, as well as antifungal treatment, and for virulence in animal models. Here, we demonstrate that a P-type ATPase, Pmc1p, is required for Candida albicans to respond to a variety of stresses...
Resource Report | Molecular Biology and PhysiologysRNA Target Prediction Organizing Tool (SPOT) Integrates Computational and Experimental Data To Facilitate Functional Characterization of Bacterial Small RNAsSmall RNAs (sRNAs) regulate gene expression in diverse bacteria by interacting with mRNAs to change their structure, stability, or translation. Hundreds of sRNAs have been identified in bacteria, but characterization of their regulatory functions is limited by difficulty with sensitive and accurate identification of mRNA targets. Thus, new robust methods of bacterial sRNA target identification are in demand. Here, we describe our...
Opinion/Hypothesis | Molecular Biology and PhysiologyGene Expression Changes with Minor Effects on the Population Average Have Major Effects on the Occurrence of Cells with Extreme Protein ConcentrationsThe cell-to-cell heterogeneity in a bacterial population provides a rich response to environmental changes and robust survival of an isogenic population. Especially, the rare, extreme phenotypes can be important for survival under transient lethal conditions.
Research Article | Molecular Biology and PhysiologyMolecular Characteristics of the Conserved Aspergillus nidulans Transcription Factor Mac1 and Its Functions in Response to Copper StarvationCopper is an essential cofactor of enzymes during a variety of biochemical processes. Therefore, Cu acquisition plays critical roles in cell survival and proliferation, especially during Cu starvation. Knowledge of the key motif(s) by which the low-Cu-responsive transcription factor Mac1 senses Cu is important for understanding how Cu uptake is controlled. Findings in this study demonstrated that the Cu fist motif, but not Cys-rich...
Research Article | Molecular Biology and PhysiologyDisruption of Apicoplast Biogenesis by Chemical Stabilization of an Imported Protein Evades the Delayed-Death Phenotype in Malaria ParasitesMalaria is a major cause of global childhood mortality. To sustain progress in disease control made in the last decade, new antimalarial therapies are needed to combat emerging drug resistance. Malaria parasites contain a relict chloroplast called the apicoplast, which harbors new targets for drug discovery. Unfortunately, some drugs targeting apicoplast pathways exhibit a delayed-death phenotype, which results in a slow onset-of-action...
Research Article | Molecular Biology and PhysiologyConserved Role for Biofilm Matrix Polysaccharides in Candida auris Drug ResistanceCandida auris is an emerging fungal threat linked to poor patient outcomes. The factors responsible for this apparent increase in pathogenicity remain largely unknown. Biofilm formation has been suggested as an important factor for persistence of this organism in patients and the environment. Our findings reveal one mechanism utilized by...
Observation | Molecular Biology and PhysiologySimultaneous Visualization of Enzymatic Activity in the Cytoplasm and at Polyphosphate Inclusions in Beggiatoa sp. Strain 35Flor Incubated with 18O-Labeled WaterMicrobial organisms exert a large influence on the environment as they directly affect the turnover of essential elements. This is particularly true for polyphosphate-accumulating large sulfur bacteria, which can either accumulate phosphate as polyphosphate or degrade it and release phosphate into the environment, depending on environmental conditions. This study presents a new approach to simultaneously visualize general metabolic...
Editor's Pick Research Article | Molecular Biology and PhysiologyIndependent Mechanisms for Acquired Salt Tolerance versus Growth Resumption Induced by Mild Ethanol Pretreatment in Saccharomyces cerevisiaeMicrobes in nature frequently experience “boom or bust” cycles of environmental stress. Thus, microbes that can anticipate the onset of stress would have an advantage. One way that microbes anticipate future stress is through acquired stress resistance, where cells exposed to a mild dose of one stress gain the ability to survive an otherwise lethal dose of a subsequent stress. In the budding yeast...