MinD2 modulates cell shape and motility in the archaeon .

In bacteria and archaea, proteins of the ParA/MinD family of ATPases regulate the spatiotemporal organization of various cellular cargoes, including cell division proteins, motility structures, chemotaxis systems, and chromosomes. In bacteria, such as , MinD proteins are crucial for the correct placement of the Z-ring at mid-cell during cell division. However, previous studies have shown that none of the 4 MinD homologs present in the archaeon have a role in cell division, suggesting that these proteins regulate different cellular processes in haloarchaea.

Structural basis of archaeal RNA polymerase transcription elongation and Spt4/5 recruitment.

Archaeal transcription is carried out by a multi-subunit RNA polymerase (RNAP) that is highly homologous in structure and function to eukaryotic RNAP II. Among the set of basal transcription factors, only Spt5 is found in all domains of life, but Spt5 has been shaped during evolution, which is also reflected in the heterodimerization of Spt5 with Spt4 in Archaea and Eukaryotes. To unravel the mechanistic basis of Spt4/5 function in Archaea, we performed structure-function analyses using the archaeal transcriptional machinery of Pyrococcus furiosus (Pfu).

Definition, assessment and management of frailty for people with intellectual disabilities: A scoping review.

Background: People with intellectual disabilities may experience frailty earlier than the general population. This scoping review aimed to investigate how frailty is defined, assessed, and managed in adults with an intellectual disability; factors associated with frailty; and the potential impact of COVID-19 on frailty identification and management.

Method: Databases were searched from January 2016 to July 2023 for studies that investigated frailty in individuals with intellectual disabilities.

The transcriptional regulator EarA and intergenic terminator sequences modulate archaellation in .

The regulation of archaellation, the formation of archaeal-specific cell appendages called archaella, is crucial for the motility, adhesion, and survival of archaeal organisms. Although the heavily archaellated and highly motile is a key model organism for understanding the production and function of archaella in Euryarchaea, the transcriptional regulation of archaellum assembly is so far unknown. Here we show that the transcription factor EarA is the master regulator of the archaellum () operon transcription, which is further modulated by intergenic transcription termination signals.

Use of social media in recruiting young people to mental health research: a scoping review.

Objectives: This review explored the literature on the use of social media in recruiting young people, aged 13-18 years, to mental health research. It aimed to identify barriers and facilitators to recruitment and strategies to improve participation in future research.

Design: Scoping review.

Uncovering the temporal dynamics and regulatory networks of thermal stress response in a hyperthermophile using transcriptomics and proteomics.

Extreme environments provide unique challenges for life, and the study of extremophiles can shed light on the mechanisms of adaptation to such conditions. , a hyperthermophilic archaeon, is a model organism for studying thermal stress response mechanisms. In this study, we used an integrated analysis of RNA-sequencing and mass spectrometry data to investigate the transcriptomic and proteomic responses of to heat and cold shock stress and recovery.

DNA Origami-Based Single-Molecule Force Spectroscopy and Applications.

Over the last years, single-molecule force spectroscopy provided insights into the intricate connection between mechanical stimuli and biochemical signaling. The underlying molecular mechanisms were uncovered and explored using techniques such as atomic force microscopy and force spectroscopy using optical or magnetic tweezers. These experimental approaches are limited by thermal noise resulting from a physical connection of the studied biological system to the macroscopic world.

The archaeal Lsm protein from binds co-transcriptionally to poly(U)-rich target RNAs.

Posttranscriptional processes in Bacteria include the association of small regulatory RNAs (sRNA) with a target mRNA. The sRNA/mRNA annealing process is often mediated by an RNA chaperone called Hfq. The functional role of bacterial and eukaryotic Lsm proteins is partially understood, whereas knowledge about archaeal Lsm proteins is scarce.

Transcriptional and translational dynamics underlying heat shock response in the thermophilic crenarchaeon .

Heat shock response is the ability to respond adequately to sudden temperature increases that could be harmful for cellular survival and fitness. It is crucial for microorganisms living in volcanic hot springs that are characterized by high temperatures and large temperature fluctuations. In this study, we investigated how , which grows optimally at 75°C, responds to heat shock by altering its gene expression and protein production processes.

A Next-Generation qPlus-Sensor-Based AFM Setup: Resolving Archaeal S-Layer Protein Structures in Air and Liquid.

Surface-layer (S-layer) proteins form the outermost envelope in many bacteria and most archaea and arrange in two-dimensional quasicrystalline structures via self-assembly. We investigated S-layer proteins extracted from the archaeon with a qPlus sensor-based atomic force microscope (AFM) in both liquid and ambient conditions and compared it to transmission electron microscopy (TEM) images under vacuum conditions. For AFM scanning, a next-generation liquid cell and a new protocol for creating long and sharp sapphire tips was introduced.

Nanopore-based RNA sequencing deciphers the formation, processing, and modification steps of rRNA intermediates in archaea.

Ribosomal RNA (rRNA) maturation in archaea is a complex multistep process that requires well-defined endo- and exoribonuclease activities to generate fully mature linear rRNAs. However, technical challenges prevented detailed mapping of rRNA processing steps and a systematic analysis of rRNA maturation pathways across the tree of life. In this study, we used long-read (PCR)-cDNA and direct RNA nanopore-based sequencing to study rRNA maturation in three archaeal model organisms, namely the Euryarchaea and and the Crenarchaeon Compared to standard short-read protocols, nanopore sequencing facilitates simultaneous readout of 5'- and 3'-positions, which is required for the classification of rRNA processing intermediates.

A novel interdomain consortium from a Costa Rican oil well composed of Methanobacterium cahuitense sp. nov. and Desulfomicrobium aggregans sp. nov.

A novel interdomain consortium composed of a methanogenic Archaeon and a sulfate-reducing bacterium was isolated from a microbial biofilm in an oil well in Cahuita National Park, Costa Rica. Both organisms can be grown in pure culture or as stable co-culture. The methanogenic cells were non-motile rods producing CH exclusively from H/CO.

Reliability and accuracy of single-molecule FRET studies for characterization of structural dynamics and distances in proteins.

Single-molecule Förster-resonance energy transfer (smFRET) experiments allow the study of biomolecular structure and dynamics in vitro and in vivo. We performed an international blind study involving 19 laboratories to assess the uncertainty of FRET experiments for proteins with respect to the measured FRET efficiency histograms, determination of distances, and the detection and quantification of structural dynamics. Using two protein systems with distinct conformational changes and dynamics, we obtained an uncertainty of the FRET efficiency ≤0.

Allosteric activation of CRISPR-Cas12a requires the concerted movement of the bridge helix and helix 1 of the RuvC II domain.

Nucleases derived from the prokaryotic defense system CRISPR-Cas are frequently re-purposed for gene editing and molecular diagnostics. Hence, an in-depth understanding of the molecular mechanisms of these enzymes is of crucial importance. We focused on Cas12a from Francisella novicida (FnCas12a) and investigated the functional role of helix 1, a structural element that together with the bridge helix (BH) connects the recognition and the nuclease lobes of FnCas12a.

Methanofollis propanolicus sp. nov., a novel archaeal isolate from a Costa Rican oil well that uses propanol for methane production.

A novel methanogenic strain, CaP3V-MF-L2A, was isolated from an exploratory oil well from Cahuita National Park, Costa Rica. The cells were irregular cocci, 0.8-1.

Single-molecule FRET uncovers hidden conformations and dynamics of human Argonaute 2.

Human Argonaute 2 (hAgo2) constitutes the functional core of the RNA interference pathway. Guide RNAs direct hAgo2 to target mRNAs, which ultimately leads to hAgo2-mediated mRNA degradation or translational inhibition. Here, we combine site-specifically labeled hAgo2 with time-resolved single-molecule FRET measurements to monitor conformational states and dynamics of hAgo2 and hAgo2-RNA complexes in solution that remained elusive so far.

Paranormal beliefs and cognitive function: A systematic review and assessment of study quality across four decades of research.

Background: Research into paranormal beliefs and cognitive functioning has expanded considerably since the last review almost 30 years ago, prompting the need for a comprehensive review. The current systematic review aims to identify the reported associations between paranormal beliefs and cognitive functioning, and to assess study quality.

Method: We searched four databases (Scopus, ScienceDirect, SpringerLink, and OpenGrey) from inception until May 2021.

Nanopore sequencing of RNA and cDNA molecules in .

High-throughput sequencing dramatically changed our view of transcriptome architectures and allowed for ground-breaking discoveries in RNA biology. Recently, sequencing of full-length transcripts based on the single-molecule sequencing platform from Oxford Nanopore Technologies (ONT) was introduced and is widely used to sequence eukaryotic and viral RNAs. However, experimental approaches implementing this technique for prokaryotic transcriptomes remain scarce.

Probing the stability of the SpCas9-DNA complex after cleavage.

CRISPR-Cas9 is a ribonucleoprotein complex that sequence-specifically binds and cleaves double-stranded DNA. Wildtype Cas9 and its nickase and cleavage-incompetent mutants have been used in various biological techniques due to their versatility and programmable specificity. Cas9 has been shown to bind very stably to DNA even after cleavage of the individual DNA strands, inhibiting further turnovers and considerably slowing down in-vivo repair processes.

Cognitive behavioural therapy for anxiety in children and young people on the autism spectrum: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Anxiety is common in youth on the autism spectrum and cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) has been adapted to address associated symptoms. The aim of the current systematic review and meta-analysis was to examine the efficacy of CBT for reducing anxiety in autistic youth.

Method: Searches of PubMed and Scopus databases were undertaken from January 1990 until December 2020.

Two decades of mindfulness-based interventions for binge eating: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Objective: Mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) are being increasingly used as interventions for eating disorders including binge eating. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to assess two decades of research on the efficacy of MBIs in reducing binge eating severity.

Methods: We searched PubMed, Scopus and Cochrane Library for trials assessing the use of MBIs to treat binge eating severity in both clinical and non-clinical samples.

Decoupling the bridge helix of Cas12a results in a reduced trimming activity, increased mismatch sensitivity and impaired conformational transitions.

The widespread and versatile prokaryotic CRISPR-Cas systems (clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats and associated Cas proteins) constitute powerful weapons against foreign nucleic acids. Recently, the single-effector nuclease Cas12a that belongs to the type V CRISPR-Cas system was added to the Cas enzymes repertoire employed for gene editing purposes. Cas12a is a bilobal enzyme composed of the REC and Nuc lobe connected by the wedge, REC1 domain and bridge helix (BH).