MIBiG 4.0: advancing biosynthetic gene cluster curation through global collaboration.

Specialized or secondary metabolites are small molecules of biological origin, often showing potent biological activities with applications in agriculture, engineering and medicine. Usually, the biosynthesis of these natural products is governed by sets of co-regulated and physically clustered genes known as biosynthetic gene clusters (BGCs). To share information about BGCs in a standardized and machine-readable way, the Minimum Information about a Biosynthetic Gene cluster (MIBiG) data standard and repository was initiated in 2015.

Exploration, expansion and definition of the atropopeptide family of ribosomally synthesized and posttranslationally modified peptides.

Ribosomally synthesized and posttranslationally modified peptides (RiPPs) constitute a diverse class of natural products. Atropopeptides are a recent addition to the class. Here we developed AtropoFinder, a genome mining algorithm to chart the biosynthetic landscape of the atropopeptides.

3-Hydroxypropionate production from myo-inositol by the gut acetogen Blautia schinkii.

Species of the genus Blautia are not only abundant in the human gut but also contribute to human well-being. Our study demonstrates that the gut acetogen Blautia schinkii can grow on myo-inositol. We identified the pathway of myo-inositol degradation through a combination of physiological and biochemical studies, genome-wide expression profiling and homology searches.

Spontaneous Mutation Rates and Spectra of Respiratory-Deficient Yeast.

The yeast petite mutant was first discovered in the yeast , which shows growth stress due to defects in genes encoding the respiratory chain. In a previous study, we described that deletion of the nuclear-encoded gene leads to mitochondrial genome (mtDNA) loss and the petite phenotype, which can be rescued by acquiring mutations. The strain showed an elevated SNV (single nucleotide variant) rate, suggesting genome instability occurred during the crisis of mtDNA loss.

Revisiting the nexus between fiscal decentralization and CO emissions in South Africa: fresh policy insights.

The argument over fiscal decentralization and carbon dioxide emission (CO) reduction has received much attention. However, evidence to back this claim is limited. Economic theory predicts that fiscal decentralization affects environmental quality, but the specifics of this relationship are still up for debate.

Can fiscal decentralization be the route to the race to zero emissions in South Africa? Fresh policy insights from novel dynamic autoregressive distributed lag simulations approach.

There has been a plethora of debate on the link between fiscal decentralization and a drop in carbon dioxide (CO) emissions, even though the evidence supporting this assertion is relatively sparse. Although the precise nature of this relationship is still up for discussion, economic hypothesis postulates that fiscal decentralization has an impact on environmental sustainability. Some researchers claim that fiscal decentralization could potentially result in a race to the top, while some believe it would lead to a race to the bottom.

A tailored indoor setup for reproducible passive daytime cooling characterization.

Passive daytime cooling materials can lower global energy consumption owing to their autonomous cooling capability. Although a significant number of passive cooling materials have been developed recently, their performance characterization is still challenging. Field tests experience high variability due to uncontrollable changes in environmental conditions.

From blood to stress-my life investigating cell differentiation.

This short retrospective covers more than 50 years of research. I spent most of it doing yeast genetics and genetic engineering. It has been my great privilege to be part of the international group of yeast genetics researchers.

Socioeconomic, Clinical, and Molecular Features of Breast Cancer Influence Overall Survival of Latin American Women.

Molecular profile of breast cancer in Latin-American women was studied in five countries: Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Mexico, and Uruguay. Data about socioeconomic characteristics, risk factors, prognostic factors, and molecular subtypes were described, and the 60-month overall cumulative survival probabilities (OS) were estimated. From 2011 to 2013, 1,300 eligible Latin-American women 18 years or older, with a diagnosis of breast cancer in clinical stage II or III, and performance status ≦̸1 were invited to participate in a prospective cohort study.

The fourth column of the spine: Prevalence of sternal fractures and concurrent thoracic spinal fractures.

Study Design: Retrospective analysis.

Objective: This study aimed to identify the prevalence of concomitant thoracic spinal and sternal fractures and factors associated with concomitant fractures.

Summary Of Background Data: The sternum has been implicated in stability of the upper thoracic spine, and both bony structures are included in the stable upper thoracic cage.

The metabolic growth limitations of petite cells lacking the mitochondrial genome.

Eukaryotic cells can survive the loss of their mitochondrial genome, but consequently suffer from severe growth defects. 'Petite yeasts', characterized by mitochondrial genome loss, are instrumental for studying mitochondrial function and physiology. However, the molecular cause of their reduced growth rate remains an open question.

The life in a gradient: calcium, the lncRNA SPRR2C and mir542/mir196a meet in the epidermis to regulate the aging process.

The turnover of the epidermis beginning with the progenitor cells in the basal layer to the fully differentiated corneocytes is tightly regulated by calcium. Calcium more than anything else promotes the differentiation of keratinocytes which implies the need for a calcium gradient with low concentrations in the stratum basale and high concentrations in the stratum granulosum. One of the hallmarks of skin aging is a collapse of this gradient that has a direct impact on the epidermal fitness.

Global Healthcare Resource Efficiency in the Management of COVID-19 Death and Infection Prevalence Rates.

The scale of impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on society and the economy globally provides a strong incentive to thoroughly analyze the efficiency of healthcare systems in dealing with the current pandemic and to obtain lessons to prepare healthcare systems to be better prepared for future pandemics. In the absence of a proven vaccine or cure, non-pharmaceutical interventions including social distancing, testing and contact tracing, isolation, and wearing of masks are essential in the fight against the worldwide COVID-19 pandemic. We use data envelopment analysis and data compiled from Worldometers and The World Bank to analyze how efficient the use of resources were to stabilize the rate of infections and minimize death rates in the top 36 countries that represented 90% of global infections and deaths out of 220 countries as of November 11, 2020.

Drug Development for Target Ribosomal Protein rpL35/uL29 for Repair of LAMB3R635X in Rare Skin Disease Epidermolysis Bullosa.

Introduction: Epidermolysis bullosa (EB) describes a family of rare genetic blistering skin disorders. Various subtypes are clinically and genetically heterogeneous, and a lethal postpartum form of EB is the generalized severe junctional EB (gs-JEB). gs-JEB is mainly caused by premature termination codon (PTC) mutations in the skin anchor protein LAMB3 (laminin subunit beta-3) gene.

Actin Cytoskeleton Regulation by the Yeast NADPH Oxidase Yno1p Impacts Processes Controlled by MAPK Pathways.

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) that exceed the antioxidative capacity of the cell can be harmful and are termed oxidative stress. Increasing evidence suggests that ROS are not exclusively detrimental, but can fulfill important signaling functions. Recently, we have been able to demonstrate that a NADPH oxidase-like enzyme (termed Yno1p) exists in the single-celled organism .

Slow Growth and Increased Spontaneous Mutation Frequency in Respiratory Deficient Yeast Suppressed by a Dominant Mutation in .

A yeast deletion mutation in the nuclear-encoded gene, , which codes for a mitochondrial ribosomal protein, led to slow growth on glucose, the inability to grow on glycerol or ethanol, and loss of mitochondrial DNA and respiration. We noticed that yeast readily obtains secondary mutations that suppress aspects of this phenotype, including its growth defect. We characterized and identified a dominant missense suppressor mutation in the gene.

Discordant evolution of mitochondrial and nuclear yeast genomes at population level.

Background: Mitochondria are essential organelles partially regulated by their own genomes. The mitochondrial genome maintenance and inheritance differ from the nuclear genome, potentially uncoupling their evolutionary trajectories. Here, we analysed mitochondrial sequences obtained from the 1011 Saccharomyces cerevisiae strain collection and identified pronounced differences with their nuclear genome counterparts.

Technical efficiency of provincial public healthcare in South Africa.

Background: Forty-nine million people or 83 per cent of the entire population of 59 million rely on the public healthcare system in South Africa. Coupled with a shortage of medical professionals, high migration, inequality and unemployment; healthcare provision is under extreme pressure. Due to negligence by the health professionals, provincial health departments had medical-legal claims estimated at R80 billion in 2017/18.

The defense and signaling role of NADPH oxidases in eukaryotic cells : Review.

This short review article summarizes what is known clinically and biochemically about the seven human NADPH oxidases. Emphasis is put on the connection between mutations in the catalytic and regulatory subunits of Nox2, the phagocyte defense enzyme, with syndromes like chronic granulomatous disease, as well as a number of chronic inflammatory diseases. These arise paradoxically from a lack of reactive oxygen species production needed as second messengers for immune regulation.

Guidelines and recommendations on yeast cell death nomenclature.

Elucidating the biology of yeast in its full complexity has major implications for science, medicine and industry. One of the most critical processes determining yeast life and physiology is cel-lular demise. However, the investigation of yeast cell death is a relatively young field, and a widely accepted set of concepts and terms is still missing.

The Dual Role of Cellular Senescence in Developing Tumors and Their Response to Cancer Therapy.

Cellular senescence describes an irreversible growth arrest characterized by distinct morphology, gene expression pattern, and secretory phenotype. The final or intermediate stages of senescence can be reached by different genetic mechanisms and in answer to different external and internal stresses. It has been maintained in the literature but never proven by clearcut experiments that the induction of senescence serves the evolutionary purpose of protecting the individual from development and growth of cancers.

Behead and live long or the tale of cathepsin L.

In recent decades Saccharomyces cerevisiae has proven to be one of the most valuable model organisms of aging research. Pathways such as autophagy or the effect of substances like resveratrol and spermidine that prolong the replicative as well as chronological lifespan of cells were described for the first time in S. cerevisiae.