Articles in 2012

The bacterial signalling nucleotide ppGpp is known to regulate promoter selection by RNA polymerase to direct the response to stress. Here, Dalebroux and Swanson look at other ways in which ppGpp helps bacteria to alter their physiology in order to accommodate fluctuating nutrient supplies and environmental stresses.

InDrosophila melanogaster, phagocytosis of specific bacteria is regulated by a circadian protein.

A general mechanism for controlling the adenylylation activity of Fic proteins has been identified.

Phenol-soluble modulins have a key role in the structuring and detachment ofStaphylococcus aureusbiofilms.

UPEC pore-forming toxin α-haemolysin (HlyA) stimulates the proteolysis of host proteins involved in cell adhesion, resulting in uroepithelial cell exfoliation.

Brucella abortushijacks autophagy components to complete its life cycle.

Phage T4 encodes an antitoxin that is active against multipleEscherichia colitoxins.

Interactions between the pathogenic neisseriae (Neisseria gonorrhoeae and Neisseria meningitidis) and neutrophils are central to the progression of both gonorrhoea and meningococcal meningitis. Here, Criss and Seifert review these interactions and propose a model in which this relationship promotes, rather than blocks, the infection cycle.

Many bacteria in a variety of niches contain cellulases. Such microorganisms are primarily considered to be saprophytic, but recent evidence suggests that cellulases are also present in non-saprophytes. By examining the genomes of ∼1,500 bacteria, Henrissat and colleagues confirm this observation and reveal unusual roles for some cellulases.

Production of viral progeny requires the coordination of a series of events. In this Review, Patton and colleagues examine structural insights into how regulation of the life cycle of rotaviruses and otherReoviridaefamily members is coupled with the assembly and disassembly of the viral particle.

Synthetic biology approaches for thede novodesign of biosynthetic pathways have developed rapidly in recent years. Takano and colleagues describe the latest computational tools available and discuss how they can be applied now and further developed for future synthetic biology efforts.

InBacillus subtilis, the choice between sporulation and competence is dependent on a molecular race between these two genetic programmes.

The HIV-1 accessory protein Vif uses the host transcription cofactor CBFβ to tag the restriction factor APOBEC3G for proteasomal destruction.

Isolation and characterization of a novel greigite-producing magnetotactic bacterium.

Genomic analysis of the abundant marine gammaproteobacterial clade SAR86 reveals metabolic details that shed light on the role of these organisms in the ocean.