Xyloglucan (an alpha-1,6-xylosyl-substituted beta-1,4-glucan) is a major hemicellulose of the primary cell wall of many plants and an important growth substrate for biomass-degrading bacteria in diverse ecological niches, including the gut microbiome and hot springs. In Gram-positive bacteria, xyloglucan is deconstructed into soluble oligosaccharides in the extracytoplasmic space before import by ATP-Binding Cassette (ABC) transporters, […]
Structural and biochemical studies of human PP2A(B55) holoenzyme and ENSA protein complex
The serine/threonine protein phosphatase 2A (B55) holoenzyme (PP2A(B55)), a key cell cycle regulator, is tightly regulated by ENSA, whose phosphorylation at Ser67 inhibits PP2A(B55). The structural basis for how pENSA orchestrates this inhibition to govern mitotic progression remains unclear. In this study, we disapproved the previous hypothesis of direct ENSA-PP2A A subunit interaction, and showed […]
Rigorous Quantitative Analysis of Nonlinear Uncertain Biomolecular Systems using Validated Methods
The paper addresses the critical challenge of accurately characterising steady states in biomolecular systems, which are often complex, nonlinear, multistable and subject to significant uncertainties. Traditional numerical methods often fail to provide complete or guaranteed solutions under these conditions. To overcome these limitations, the research proposes and evaluates the application of interval analysis methodologies. We […]
Summer rainfall drives adaptation with gene flow in a widespread butterfly
Understanding how environmental variation interacts with gene flow to shape population genomic patterns is a central goal in evolutionary biology. We investigated how geographic and environmental differences impact genomic variation in the clouded sulfur butterfly (Colias philodice eriphyle) by conducting whole-genome resequencing across replicated transects consisting of paired high- and low-elevation sites on both sides […]
Environment and physiology shape antiphage system expression
Bacteria and archaea encode on average ten antiphage systems. Quorum sensing, cellular, or transcription factors can regulate specific systems (CRISPR-Cas, CBASS). Yet, a systematic assessment of antiphage systems expression patterns is lacking. Here, we combine publicly available RNA-seq data from 14 different species with an original RNA-seq dataset of 15 Escherichia coli strains across six […]
How does selection for flowering in maize shapes defenses components against the European Corn Borer ?
Understanding how selection for flowering time affects maize susceptibility to the European corn borer (ECB, Ostrinia nubilalis) is essential in the context of climate change and increasing pest pressures. We investigated the consequences of divergent selection for flowering time on maize defense and susceptibility traits using two genetic backgrounds (MBS847 and F252). Three complementary approaches […]
Uncovering the link between ATP synthase and the TCA cycle by crosslinking mass spectrometry
Mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) comprises a series of multi-subunit protein complexes that operate in coordination with the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle to generate ATP. Although these systems are metabolically interconnected, complex II is generally regarded as the only direct structural link between the OXPHOS and TCA cycle. Here, we combine in-solution crosslinking mass-spectrometry (XL-MS), quantitative […]
Detection of Mid-parent Heterosis Genes in Large-Scale Unreplicated RNA-Seq Experiments
Mid-parent heterosis (MPH), characterized by hybrid trait values deviating from the mid-parent average, is a well-documented phenomenon whose genetic basis remains poorly understood. Identifying genes associated with MPH is crucial for uncovering the molecular mechanisms underlying heterosis. Recent large-scale RNA-sequencing (RNA-seq) experiments enable the evaluation of heterosis genes across numerous families; however, replication is often […]
Alpha hemolysin polymorphisms in methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus clinical isolates regulate ADAM10-dependent neutrophil IL-1 beta secretion
Staphylococcus aureus alpha-hemolysin (Hla) is a major virulence factor that utilizes cell surface ADAM10 to oligomerize and form a functional heptameric pore. We show here that Hla from strain USA300 is required to induce IL-1 beta secretion by neutrophils and to cause severe corneal disease in mice. We also demonstrate that in contrast to USA300 […]
Genomic Flexibility Through Extrachromosomal Amplifications: A Leishmania Survival Strategy
Leishmania parasites modulate gene copy number through extrachromosomal DNA (ecDNA) amplification, enabling adaptation to environmental stress. Under drug pressure, both linear and circular ecDNA amplifications (amplicons) carrying resistance genes emerge. However, how these ecDNA structures form, diversify, and coexist remains poorly understood. Here, using experimental evolution and Oxford Nanopore long-read sequencing, we show that a […]