A metagenome was obtained by pyrosequencing the total prokaryotic DNA from the water of a pond with intermediate salinity (13% salts) from a saltern located in Santa Pola, Spain. We analyzed and compared the phylogenomic and metabolic diversity of this saltern pond with respect to other two metagenomes obtained previously from the same saltern (ponds with 19% and 37% salts, respectively) and two reference metagenomes from marine and coastal lagoon habitats. A large microbial diversity, representing seven major higher taxa (Euryarchaeota, Gammaproteobacteria, Alphaproteobacteria, Actinobacteria, Bacteroidetes, Verrucomicrobia and Betaproteobacteria), was found. However, most sequences (57%) were not assigned to any previously described genus. Principal component analysis of tetranucleotide frequencies of assembled contigs showed the presence of new groups of Euryarchaeota, different from those previously described but related to Haloquadratum walsbyi and other members of the Halobacteriaceae. Besides, some new Gammaproteobacteria, several closely related to the recently isolated bacterium 'Spiribacter salinus' were observed. Metabolically, the nitrogen and carbon cycles appear to be very simplified in this extreme habitat. Light is extensively used as energy source by bacteriorhodopsins and other rhodopsins. Microorganisms known to use the 'salt-in' strategy are probably able to combine the accumulation of potassium ions and of compatible solutes.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/1574-6941.12329 | DOI Listing |
The metabolism of steroids by the gut microbiome affects hormone homeostasis, impacting host development, mental health, and reproductive functions. In this study, we identify the Δ -3-ketosteroid 5β-reductase, 3β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase/Δ isomerase, and Δ -3-ketosteroid reductase enzyme families encoded by common human gut bacteria. Through phylogenetic reconstruction and mutagenesis, We show that 5β-reductase and Δ -3-ketosteroid reductase have evolved to specialize in converting diverse 3-keto steroid hormones into their 5β- and Δ -reduced derivatives.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFTagging RNAs with fluorogenic aptamers has enabled imaging of transcripts in living cells, thereby revealing novel aspects of RNA metabolism and dynamics. While a diverse set of fluorogenic aptamers has been developed, a new generation of aptamers are beginning to exploit the ring-opening of spirocyclic rhodamine dyes to achieve robust performance in live mammalian cells. These fluorophores have two chemical states: a colorless, cell-permeable spirocyclic state and a fluorescent zwitterionic state.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFFood Sci Nutr
January 2025
Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Joint Laboratory for New Drug Screening, School of Pharmacy The Chinese University of Hong Kong Hong Kong SAR P. R. China.
is a kind of popular functional food to be consumed by both healthy and diabetic people. As its major constituent, polysaccharide (DOP) is mainly utilized by gut microbiota. Despite distinctive gut microbiota composition between healthy and diabetic individuals, no study compared the interplay between DOP and gut microbiota under healthy and diabetic status.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFJACC Asia
December 2024
Primary Aldosteronism Center in National Taiwan University Hospital, TAIPAI (Taiwan Primary Aldosteronism Investigation) Study Group, Taiwan.
Background: In this study, we developed and validated machine learning models to predict primary aldosteronism (PA) in hypertensive East-Asian patients, comparing their performance against the traditional saline infusion test. The motivation for this development arises from the need to provide a more efficient and standardized diagnostic approach, because the saline infusion test, although considered a gold standard, is often cumbersome, is time-consuming, and lacks uniform protocols. By offering an alternative diagnostic method, this study seeks to enhance patient care through quicker and potentially more reliable PA detection.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFHortic Res
January 2025
Metabolic engineering and Synthetic Biology Laboratory, Department of Natural Products, National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research, S.A.S Nagar 160062, Punjab, India.
Triterpene (C30 isoprene compounds) represents the most structurally diverse class of natural products and has been extensively exploited in the food, medicine, and industrial sectors. Decades of research on medicinal triterpene biosynthetic pathways have revealed their roles in stress tolerance and shaping microbiota. However, the biological function and mechanism of triterpenes are not fully identified.
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