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Allister Crow

@allistercrow.bsky.social

Structural Microbiologist

6 Posts131 Follower146 Folgt
Patrick Moynihan@pmoyniha.bsky.social · last mo.

New paper in collaboration with @proftracypalmer.bsky.social, @lislowe.bsky.social and many more. We show that mycobacteria produce Type VII secreted anti-bacterial protein toxins. Excited to explore this new area of mycobacterial biology. www.nature.com/articles/s41...

A Type VII-secreted toxin enables inter-mycobacterial competition - Nature Communications

Mycobacteria have not yet been reported to engage in interbacterial competition via secretion of proteinaceous toxins. Here, Benedict et al. show that some mycobacteria can use their type-VII secretio...

nature.com

Shu-Sin Chng@figlegend.bsky.social · 5mo ago

And now published as an Observation! Many congrats to @weeboont.bsky.social for discovering that AsmA superfamily proteins, YhdP/TamB/YdbH, localize to the cell poles in E. coli, curiously AFTER division has occurred! 1/3 #MicroSky journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/...

Polar localization of putative phospholipid transporters in Escherichia coli | mBio

The outer membrane (OM) of Gram-negative bacteria serves as an effective permeability barrier and confers intrinsic antibiotic resistance. This barrier function requires distinct distribution of lipid...

journals.asm.org

Shu-Sin Chng@figlegend.bsky.social · last yr.

@weeboont.bsky.social talked about our lab's recent preprint where we report AsmA superfamily proteins, believed to be phospholipid transporters, localizing to cell poles in E. coli. Really interesting observations, with impt implications for OM assembly! Read it 👇! www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...

Ute Hellmich@hellmichgroup.bsky.social · 8mo ago

Super nice to wake up to the news that our paper on bidirectional communication in an ABC transporter has been selected as a Nature Communications Editors’ Highlight in “Structural biology, biochemistry and biophysics"! 🥳 🥳 🥳 www.nature.com/articles/s41... @microverse.bsky.social

Bidirectional communication between nucleotide and substrate binding sites in a type IV multidrug ABC transporter - Nature Communications

The communication hinge, found in type IV ABC transporters, forms a bidirectional communication between ATP- and substrate-binding sites. This is an unexplored allosteric pathway critical for function...

nature.com

Calum H. G. Johnston@chgjohnston.bsky.social · 8mo ago

Pleased to share our recent article in PNAS - a collaboration with @jessicaandreani.bsky.social & Pablo Radicella, with important roles played by many members of each team. A tripartite protein complex promotes DNA transport during natural transformation in Firmicutes www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...

A tripartite protein complex promotes DNA transport during natural transformation in Firmicutes | PNAS

Natural genetic transformation is a conserved mechanism of bacterial horizontal gene transfer, which is directed entirely by the recipient cell and...

pnas.org

Allister Crow@allistercrow.bsky.social · 8mo ago

Type VII ABC transporters underpin many core activities in the bacterial cell envelope - including efflux, cell division and lipoprotein trafficking. A new paper in PLOS Biology reveals YbbAP-TesA as a novel Type VII system in E. coli. dx.plos.org/10.1371/jour...

Structural characterization of the YbbAP-TesA ABC transporter identifies it as a lipid hydrolase complex that extracts hydrophobic compounds from the bacterial inner membrane

In E.coli, three of the four Type VII ABC transporter systems have been structurally characterized. This study solves cryo-EM structures of the fourth Type VII ABC system, YbbAP-TesA, and suggests tha...

dx.plos.org

H. B. Beryl Rappaport@hbrappap.bsky.social · 8mo ago

So happy to announce our new preprint, “A geothermal amoeba sets a new upper temperature limit for eukaryotes.” We cultured a novel amoeba from Lassen Volcanic NP (CA, USA) that divides at 63°C (145°F) 🔥 - a new record for euk growth! #protistsonsky 🧵

bioRxiv Microbiology@biorxiv-microbiol.bsky.social · 8mo ago

A geothermal amoeba sets a new upper temperature limit for eukaryotes https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2025.11.24.690213v1

Raffaele Ieva@raffaeleieva.bsky.social · 8mo ago

rdcu.be/eRxNf here our new study on the characterization of the lipopolysaccharide holotranslocon, LptDE and the newly identified subunits LptM and LptY. Great collaboration with @fronzeslab.bsky.social @pstansfeld.bsky.social @JulienMarcoux @YvesQuentin

Structural basis of lipopolysaccharide assembly by the outer membrane translocon holo-complex

Nature Communications - The asymmetric distribution of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) on the surface of the bacterial outer membrane is essential and crucial for antibiotic resistance. Here, authors...

rdcu.be

Kermit Murray@kkmurray.bsky.social · 10mo ago

(BioRxiv All) Paenitracins, a novel family of bacitracin-type nonribosomal peptide antibiotics produced by plant-associated Paenibacillus species: The growing threat of antimicrobial resistance necessitates the discovery of novel antibiotics with activity against… #BioRxiv #MassSpecRSS

Paenitracins, a novel family of bacitracin-type nonribosomal peptide antibiotics produced by plant-associated Paenibacillus species

The growing threat of antimicrobial resistance necessitates the discovery of novel antibiotics with activity against drug-resistant pathogens. Members of the genus Paenibacillus are a rich source of nonribosomal peptides (NRPs), including well-known antibiotics such as polymyxins, paenibacterin and tridecaptins. Here we use a targeted Mass-QL-based mass spectrometry approach to identify the NRPs produced by a collection of 227 taxonomically diverse plant-associated Paenibacillus strains, providing detailed insights into their NRP-producing potential. Using MassQL to zoom in specifically on NRPs containing basic amino acids, we discovered a novel family of bacitracins, which we designated paenitracins. The paenitracins are the first bacitracin-type peptides reported in Paenibacillus, and are distinguished from canonical bacitracins by three previously unseen amino acid substitutions. The paenitracins exhibit potent activity against Gram-positive pathogens, including vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecium E155. Our work provides a novel metabolomics- and genomics-guided workflow for the discovery of bioactive NRPs as a strategy to prioritize natural product chemical space and accelerate antibiotic discovery.

dlvr.it

Rhys Grinter@rhyswg.bsky.social · 11mo ago

The outer membrane of Gram-negative bacteria blocks many antibiotics. Our latest work reveals that L-type pyocins bypass this barrier by inactivating the BAM complex, killing Pseudomonas aeruginosa without entering the cell, providing a new blueprint for beating antibiotic resistance.

A Protein Antibiotic Inhibits the BAM Complex to Kill Without Cell Entry

Many antibiotics are ineffective against Gram-negative pathogens such as Pseudomonas aeruginosa because they cannot penetrate the bacterial outer membrane. Here, we show that protein antibiotics calle...

biorxiv.org

Kate Michie@kmichie.bsky.social · last yr.

CdpA-an archaeal anchor for FtsZ! Excited to be part of this. (FtsZ is easily my favourite protein and the whole larger family in Archaea are intriguing). www.nature.com/articles/s41...

Cell division protein CdpA organises and anchors the midcell ring in haloarchaea - Nature Communications

Cell division in many archaea requires the coordinated activities of two distinct FtsZ proteins, which are part of the midcell division ring. Here, Liao et al. show that an additional protein, CdpA, o...

nature.com

Matt McNeil@mattmcneil86.bsky.social · last yr.

Really excited that our group was able to contribute to this awesome work from Bing Zhang and Zihe Rao solving the structure and assembly of the MmpS5L5 efflux pump from Mtb!! www.nature.com/articles/s41...

Structure and assembly of the MmpL5/MmpS5 efflux transporter from Mycobacterium tuberculosis - Nature Communications

The MmpL5/MmpS5 efflux system is crucial for drug extrusion and siderophore export in M. tuberculosis. Here, the authors report its high-resolution cryo-EM structures, revealing a unique trimeric asse...

nature.com

Rhys Grinter@rhyswg.bsky.social · last yr.

Why make a cofactor when you can get it for free? Our work, led by @fabianmunder.bsky.social, shows that bacteria from 22 phyla use the high-affinity transporter PqqU to obtain the redox cofactor PQQ from the environment as an alternative to cofactor synthesis. www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...

High-affinity PQQ import is widespread in Gram-negative bacteria

Diverse bacteria use the high-affinity membrane transport protein PqqU to scavenge the nutrient PQQ from the environment.

science.org

@davidroper2.bsky.social · last yr.

Beta-lactams covalently bind to Penicillin Binding Proteins and have been the mainstay of antimicrobial chemotherapy for decades. In this new paper with colleagues @Bicycle_tx we show a new way to hit old targets: rdcu.be/eoaRI

Discovery and chemical optimisation of a potent, Bi-cyclic antimicrobial inhibitor of Escherichia coli PBP3

Communications Biology - Discovery of a bicyclic peptide inhibitor of cell wall biosynthesis in the Enterobacterales demonstrates applicability of a modified phage display platform to antibiotic...

rdcu.be

Séamus Holden 🔬🦠🧫@seamusholden.bsky.social · last yr.

I forgot to post about this recent paper - exciting work led by @michriscopy.bsky.social showing clearest evidence yet for transertion strongly tethering the bacterial nucleoid to the membrane during fast growth. It was a pleasure to contribute a little 🔬🦠🧫 www.nature.com/articles/s41...

The nucleoid of rapidly growing Escherichia coli localizes close to the inner membrane and is organized by transcription, translation, and cell geometry - Nature Communications

The mechanisms underlying bacterial chromosome configuration are not fully understood. Here, Spahn et al. show that the Escherichia coli nucleoid adopts a condensed, membrane-proximal configuration du...

nature.com

Ethan Garner@fleshball.bsky.social · last yr.

I’m excited that the work by Diego Ramirez and Lei Yin is out, where they gained several key insights into what provides the force underlying bacterial cell division doi.org/10.1101/2025.... To divide, cells must first bend the membrane inward, a process that’s energetically expensive

The interplay of membrane tension and FtsZ filament condensation on the initiation and progression of cell division in B. subtilis

The first step of cell division is deforming the planar cell membrane inward towards the cytoplasm. As deforming membranes is energetically costly, biology has developed various protein systems to acc...

doi.org

Jie Xiao@jiexiaolab.bsky.social · last yr.

Our new paper on FtsN is out! Now there are three tracks for organized cell wall constriction-- the old, boring E. coli always manages to surprise us. A special shout-out to all the people who made this work possible, especially Dr. Jason Lyu, and Dr. David Weiss. www.nature.com/articles/s41...

Third track model for coordination of septal peptidoglycan synthesis and degradation by FtsN in Escherichia coli - Nature Microbiology

Partitioning of FtsN and the septal peptidoglycan synthesis complex between an active synthesis track and an inactive denuded glycan track coordinates opposing peptidoglycan synthesis and degradation ...

nature.com