Publications by authors named "N Paterson"
The enterobacterial common antigen (ECA) is conserved in Gram-negative bacteria of the order although its function is debated. ECA biogenesis depends on the Wzx/Wzy-dependent strategy whereby the newly synthesized lipid-linked repeat units, lipid III, are transferred across the inner membrane by the lipid III flippase WzxE. WzxE is part of the Wzx family and required in many glycan assembly systems, but an understanding of its molecular mechanism is hindered due to a lack of structural evidence.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAlthough macrophages in the meningeal compartments of the central nervous system (CNS) have been comprehensively characterized under steady state, studying their contribution to physiological and pathological processes has been hindered by the lack of specific targeting tools in vivo. Recent findings have shown that the dural sinus and its adjacent lymphatic vessels act as a neuroimmune interface. However, the cellular and functional heterogeneity of extrasinusoidal dural macrophages outside this immune hub is not fully understood.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFMultifunctionality, processivity, and thermostability are critical for the cost-effective enzymatic saccharification of non-food plant biomass polymers such as β-glucans, celluloses, and xylans to generate biofuels and other valuable products. We present molecular insights into a processive multifunctional endo-1,3-1,4-β-d-glucanase (Tt_End5A) from the hyperthermophilic bacterium Thermogutta terrifontis. Tt_End5A demonstrated activities against a broad spectrum of β-polysaccharides, including barley glucan, lichenan, carboxymethyl cellulose, regenerated amorphous cellulose (RAC), Avicel, xylan, laminarin, mannan, curdlan, xanthan, and various chromogenic substrates at pH 7 and temperatures ranging from 70 to 80°C.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFArticle Synopsis
- - During infections, reactive oxygen species can cause DNA damage, necessitating a repair process that involves the enzyme endonuclease IV (Nfo), which removes defective DNA bases through hydrolysis.
- - The crystal structure of Nfo from a Gram-positive organism shows that it contains two iron ions and one zinc ion, with unique water molecule coordination that may play a role in how the enzyme distinguishes between these metals.
- - Nfo exhibits slow product release and optimal activity at high salt concentrations, which ties into its function and potentially significant role in organisms that thrive in salty environments.