Metabolic pathways articles from across Nature Portfolio

Aerobic methanotrophic bacteria oxidize methane in sulfide-rich environments, even though hydrogen sulfide (H₂S) inhibits methane oxidation and aerobic respiration. Here, Schmitz et al. show that a single microorganism can oxidize methane and H₂S simultaneously, and this is associated with upregulation of a sulfide-insensitive terminal oxidase.

Production of highly modified sterols, such as cholesterol, is essential to eukaryotic physiology but has not been yet reported for bacteria. Here, Lee et al. show that a marine myxobacterium produces cholesterol, and provide evidence for further downstream modifications in this and other bacterial species.

A combination of enzyme discovery for nonheme diiron N-monooxygenases, metabolic engineering and genetic code expansion enables the construction of a live bacterial producer of synthetic nitrated proteins containing para-nitro-l-phenylalanine.

Pipercevic et al resolve how inositol molecules activate the VTC protein complex. The VTC complex stores phosphate in yeast and is controlled by SPX domains. The inositol molecules break an interaction between SPX domains to activate the complex.

A resistance mechanism for a class of drugs targeting histone acetyltransferase inhibitors was identified where metabolic rewiring creates high concentrations of acetyl-CoA that outcompete drug-target engagement.

Reconstructing metabolic pathways in non-living systems allows for better understanding of living systems, however, mimicking living systems with non-living forms of matter remains challenging. Here, the authors report the synthesis of a minimal cell that incorporates energy production and information polymer synthesis and can undergo recursive vesicle production.