Phenotyping of cancer-associated somatic mutations in the BCL2 transmembrane domain.

The BCL2 family of proteins controls cell death by modulating the permeabilization of the mitochondrial outer membrane through a fine-tuned equilibrium of interactions among anti- and pro-apoptotic members. The upregulation of anti-apoptotic BCL2 proteins represents an unfavorable prognostic factor in many tumor types due to their ability to shift the equilibrium toward cancer cell survival. Furthermore, cancer-associated somatic mutations in BCL2 genes interfere with the protein interaction network, thereby promoting cell survival.

Lichens and Their Substrates Reduce the Influence of Forest Cover Change on Phosphate Solubilizing Bacteria.

Phosphorus (P) is one of the most critical macronutrients in forest ecosystems. More than 70 years ago, some Chilean Patagonian temperate forests suffered wildfires and the subsequent afforestation with foreign tree species such as pines. Since soil P turnover is interlinked with the tree cover, this could influence soil P content and bioavailability.

COVID-19, sex, and gender in China: a scoping review.

Background: During the course of the COVID-19 pandemic, states were called upon by the World Health Organization to introduce and prioritise the collection of sex-disaggregated data. The collection of sex-disaggregated data on COVID-19 testing, infection rates, hospital admissions, and deaths, when available, has informed our understanding of the biology of the infectious disease. The collection of sex-disaggregated data should also better inform our understanding of the gendered impacts that contribute to risk of exposure to COVID-19.

Understanding MCL1: from cellular function and regulation to pharmacological inhibition.

Myeloid cell leukemia-1 (MCL1), an antiapoptotic member of the BCL2 family characterized by a short half-life, functions as a rapid sensor that regulates cell death and other relevant processes that include cell cycle progression and mitochondrial homeostasis. In cancer, MCL1 overexpression contributes to cell survival and resistance to diverse chemotherapeutic agents; for this reason, several MCL1 inhibitors are currently under preclinical and clinical development for cancer treatment. However, the nonapoptotic functions of MCL1 may influence their therapeutic potential.

The Bacterial Community of the Foliose Macro-lichen Peltigera frigida Is More than a Mere Extension of the Microbiota of the Subjacent Substrate.

Lichens host highly diverse microbial communities, with bacteria being one of the most explored groups in terms of their diversity and functioning. These bacteria could partly originate from symbiotic propagules developed by many lichens and, perhaps more commonly and depending on environmental conditions, from different sources of the surroundings. Using the narrowly distributed species Peltigera frigida as an object of study, we propose that bacterial communities in these lichens are different from those in their subjacent substrates, even if some taxa might be shared.

Mcl-1 and Bok transmembrane domains: Unexpected players in the modulation of apoptosis.

The Bcl-2 protein family comprises both pro- and antiapoptotic members that control the permeabilization of the mitochondrial outer membrane, a crucial step in the modulation of apoptosis. Recent research has demonstrated that the carboxyl-terminal transmembrane domain (TMD) of some Bcl-2 protein family members can modulate apoptosis; however, the transmembrane interactome of the antiapoptotic protein Mcl-1 remains largely unexplored. Here, we demonstrate that the Mcl-1 TMD forms homooligomers in the mitochondrial membrane, competes with full-length Mcl-1 protein with regards to its antiapoptotic function, and induces cell death in a Bok-dependent manner.

Carbon Consumption Patterns of Microbial Communities Associated with Lichens from a Chilean Temperate Forest.

Lichens are a symbiotic association between a fungus and a green alga or a cyanobacterium, or both. They can grow in practically any terrestrial environment and play crucial roles in ecosystems, such as assisting in soil formation and degrading soil organic matter. In their thalli, they can host a wide diversity of non-photoautotrophic microorganisms, including bacteria, which play important functions and are considered key components of the lichens.

Substrates of Peltigera Lichens as a Potential Source of Cyanobionts.

Photobiont availability is one of the main factors determining the success of the lichenization process. Although multiple sources of photobionts have been proposed, there is no substantial evidence confirming that the substrates on which lichens grow are one of them. In this work, we obtained cyanobacterial 16S ribosomal RNA gene sequences from the substrates underlying 186 terricolous Peltigera cyanolichens from localities in Southern Chile and maritime Antarctica and compared them with the sequences of the cyanobionts of these lichens, in order to determine if cyanobacteria potentially available for lichenization were present in the substrates.

Intrinsic factors of Peltigera lichens influence the structure of the associated soil bacterial microbiota.

Definition of lichens has evolved from bi(tri)partite associations to multi-species symbioses, where bacteria would play essential roles. Besides, although soil bacterial communities are known to be affected by edaphic factors, when lichens grow upon them these could become less preponderant. We hypothesized that the structure of both the lichen microbiota and the microbiota in the soil underneath lichens is shaped by lichen intrinsic and extrinsic factors.

Phylogenetic Diversity of Peltigera Cyanolichens and Their Photobionts in Southern Chile and Antarctica.

The lichen genus Peltigera has been mainly revised in the Northern Hemisphere, with most species being recorded in Europe and North America. This study assessed the phylogenetic diversity of the mycobionts and cyanobionts of Peltigera cyanolichens collected in Southern Chile and Antarctica, areas in which lichens are extremely diverse but poorly studied. The operational taxonomic units (OTUs) of each symbiont were defined by analyzing the genetic diversity of the LSU and SSU rDNA of the mycobionts and cyanobionts, respectively, and a phylogenetic approach was used to relate these OTUs with sequences previously reported for Peltigera and Nostoc.