() is a natural crystal-making bacterium. diversified into many subspecies that have evolved to produce crystals of hundreds of pesticidal proteins with radically different structures. Their crystalline form ensures stability and controlled release of these major virulence factors. They are responsible for the toxicity and host specificity of , explaining its worldwide use as a biological insecticide. Most research has been devoted to understanding the mechanisms of toxicity of these toxins while the features driving their crystallization have long remained elusive, essentially due to technical limitations. The evolution of methods in structural biology, pushing back the limits of the resolution attainable, now allows access to be gained to structural information hidden within natural crystals of such toxins. In this review, I present the main parameters that have been identified as key drivers of toxin crystallization in , notably in the light of recent discoveries driven by structural biology studies. Then, I develop how the future evolution of structural biology will hopefully unveil new mechanisms of toxin crystallization, opening the door to their hijacking with the aim of developing a versatile in vivo crystallization platform of high academic and industrial interest.
Download full-text PDF |
Source |
|---|---|
| http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8309854 | PMC |
| http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/toxins13070443 | DOI Listing |
Publication Analysis
Top Keywords
Similar Publications
Maize Streak Virus: Single and Gemini Capsid Architecture.
Viruses
November 2024
Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, College of Medicine Center for Structural Biology, McKnight Brain Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610-0245, USA.
are ssDNA plant viruses whose control has both economical and agricultural importance. Their capsids assemble into two distinct architectural forms: (i) a T = 1 icosahedral and (ii) a unique twinned quasi-isometric capsid. Described here are the high-resolution structures of both forms of the maize streak virus using cryo-EM.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFNovel Nanocomposites and Biopolymer-Based Nanocomposites for Hexavalent Chromium Removal from Aqueous Media.
Polymers (Basel)
December 2024
Department of Applied Chemistry and Engineering of Inorganic Compounds and the Environment, University Politehnica Timisoara, 2 Piata Victoriei, 300006 Timișoara, Romania.
Designing new engineered materials derived from waste is essential for effective environmental remediation and reducing anthropogenic pollution in our economy. This study introduces an innovative method for remediating metal-contaminated water, using two distinct waste types: one biowaste (eggshell) and one industrial waste (fly ash). We synthesized three novel, cost-effective nanoadsorbent types, including two new tertiary composites and two biopolymer-based composites (specifically k-carrageenan and chitosan), which targeted chromium removal from aqueous solutions.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIdentification and Functional Analysis of the Gene Conferring Resistance to Late Blight () in Tomato.
Plants (Basel)
December 2024
State Key Laboratory of Vegetable Biobreeding, Institute of Vegetables and Flowers, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100081, China.
Late blight is a destructive disease affecting tomato production. The identification and characterization of resistance (R) genes are critical for the breeding of late blight-resistant cultivars. The incompletely dominant gene confers resistance against the race T of in tomatoes.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFGram Negative Biofilms: Structural and Functional Responses to Destruction by Antibiotic-Loaded Mixed Polymeric Micelles.
Microorganisms
December 2024
Department of Microbiology, Stephan Angeloff Institute of Microbiology, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Akad. G. Bonchev Street, bl. 26, 1113 Sofia, Bulgaria.
Biofilms are a well-known multifactorial virulence factor with a pivotal role in chronic bacterial infections. Their pathogenicity is determined by the combination of strain-specific mechanisms of virulence and the biofilm extracellular matrix (ECM) protecting the bacteria from the host immune defense and the action of antibacterials. The successful antibiofilm agents should combine antibacterial activity and good biocompatibility with the capacity to penetrate through the ECM.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFEffects of the Application of DY1-3 on the Growth of Maize Plants and the Structure of Soil Bacterial Community.
Microorganisms
December 2024
National Demonstration Center for Experimental Biology Education, Xinjiang Key Laboratory of Biological Resources and Genetic Engineering, College of Life Science & Technology, Xinjiang University, Urumqi 830017, China.
Against the background of increasing salinisation of land, the use of environmentally friendly plant growth-promoting bacteria (PGPB) resources for soil improvement is particularly important. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of DY1-3 on maize seedling growth, soil physico-chemical properties, and bacterial community structure. The study also evaluates the effects of this microbial agent on plant growth and saline soil improvement, providing theoretical references for microbial agents in promoting plant growth and improving saline soils.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFWant AI Summaries of new PubMed Abstracts delivered to your In-box?
Enter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!