You can read Issue 2:5 of MicrobiologyOpen online now!
MicrobiologyOpen is a broad scope, peer reviewed journal delivering rapid decisions and fast publication of microbial science. The journal gives priority to reports of quality research, pure or applied, that further our understanding of microbial interactions and microbial processes.
Editor-in-Chief, Pierre Cornelis has highlighted the papers below from the latest issue as of particular interest:
TusA (YhhP) and IscS are required for molybdenum cofactor-dependent base-analog detoxification
Stanislav G. Kozmin, Elena I. Stepchenkova and Roel M. Schaaper
Summary: We show that Escherichia coli mutants deficient in the sulfurtransferase TusA or the cysteine desulfurase IscS are hypersensitive to the toxic effects of the adenine analog 6-N-hydroxylaminopurine (HAP). This sensitivity is similar to and epistatic with the HAP sensitivity of moa mutants, which defective in biosynthesis of the molybdenum cofactor (Moco). Our results suggest that TusA and IscS are critical for the insertion of the dithiolene sulfurs in Moco that coordinate the molybdenum atom.
A mutation in the promoter region of zipA, a component of the divisome, suppresses the shape defect of RodZ-deficient cells
Daisuke Shiomi and Hironori Niki
Summary: We studied the mechanism by which a mutation in the promoter of zipA, which encodes a component of the cell division machinery, restores rod shape in RodZ-deficient E. coli cells. ZipA was slightly increased in the suppressor cells and led to a delay in cell division. Round-shaped rodZ mutants retained cell bipolarity, suggesting that a delay in the completion of septation may provide extra time to elongate the cell laterally.
Nitrogen regulation of protein–protein interactions and transcript levels of GlnK PII regulator and AmtB ammonium transporter homologs in Archaea
Laia Pedro-Roig, Christian Lange, María José Bonete, Jörg Soppa and Julie Maupin-Furlow
Summary: Here, we report that amtB-glnK operons are highly cotranscribed during conditions of dissimilatory nitrate reduction in Haloferax mediterranei. Furthermore, the GlnK PII regulatory proteins associate with AmtB-type transporters in the membrane of this archaeon after ammonia shock presumably to block ammonia uptake.