Publications by authors named "S J Routledge"
Identification of membrane engineering targets for increased butanol tolerance in Clostridium saccharoperbutylacetonicum.
Biochim Biophys Acta Biomembr
December 2023
Article Synopsis
- Microbial cell factories are increasingly being explored to produce butanol, an eco-friendly solvent and biofuel alternative to fossil fuels.
- Solventogenic Clostridia, particularly Clostridium saccharoperbutylacetonicum N1-4, are favored for their natural ability to synthesize butanol, though high toxicity limits large-scale application.
- This study reveals how butanol affects cell membranes, particularly the increase of phosphatidylglycerol lipids, suggesting that modifying membrane properties could enhance butanol tolerance and improve production efficiency.
The Role of ICL1 and H8 in Class B1 GPCRs; Implications for Receptor Activation.
Front Endocrinol (Lausanne)
March 2022
The first intracellular loop (ICL1) of G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) has received little attention, although there is evidence that, with the 8 helix (H8), it is involved in early conformational changes following receptor activation as well as contacting the G protein β subunit. In class B1 GPCRs, the distal part of ICL1 contains a conserved RKLRCxR motif that extends into the base of the second transmembrane helix; this is weakly conserved as a [R/H]KL[R/H] motif in class A GPCRs. In the current study, the role of ICL1 and H8 in signaling through cAMP, Ca and ERK1/2 has been examined in two class B1 GPCRs, using mutagenesis and molecular dynamics.
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- * Using a modified synthetic must for adaptation, the researchers found that the adapted yeast strain H14A7-etoh showed increased resistance to sulfite but only slight improvement in ethanol tolerance, alongside a reduced ability to ferment sugars.
- * Genetic analysis revealed instability in the hybrid's genome, with different adaptations across its subgenomes, including duplicated chromosomes and changes in gene expression affecting lipid composition related to stress tolerance mechanisms.
Article Synopsis
- Inherited retinal degenerations (IRD) are rare genetic disorders with over 300 known genetic loci that cause progressive visual dysfunction, but they historically lacked effective treatments requiring improved diagnosis and management pathways.
- The Target 5000 initiative in Ireland, developed through expert surveys, focused on detailed patient assessment and genetic testing to create personalized care plans with a multidisciplinary team, ultimately identifying pathogenic variants in 62.3% of patients.
- The program resulted in significant cost savings, improved patient engagement, and a model for future IRD programs, showing promise for discovering new genetic variants and treatment options.
Saccharomyces cerevisiae is an important unicellular yeast species within the biotechnological and the food and beverage industries. A significant application of this species is the production of ethanol, where concentrations are limited by cellular toxicity, often at the level of the cell membrane. Here, we characterize 61 S.
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