From fibril to framework: P. abyssi AbpX illuminates a calcium-responsive family of microbial biomatrix proteins that form thermostable hydrogels Evolutionary pressure on microbial communities propagating under extreme environmental conditions often results in unique structural adaptations to promote cell survival. Here, we report an investigat...

New manuscript alert. Turns out that calcium ion coordination may be a more common mechanism than we initially expected to trigger polymerization of extracellular filaments. @mikesleutel.bsky.social @vikramalva.bsky.social

www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6...

Cryo-EM identifies F-ENA of Bacillus thuringiensis as a widespread family of endospore appendages across Firmicutes - Nature Communications B. thuringiensis spores contain uncharacterized protein filaments that extend from the surface of the exosporium. Here, the authors show that these filaments feature conserved β-barrel neck domains an...

For over 100 years, Bt spores have been used to protect crops from caterpillars. These spores bear mysterious hair-like ENAs. Thanks to cryoEM, we now know ENAs are robust protein fibers that cluster spores like grappling hooks. Read more in Nature Communications.

www.nature.com/articles/s41...

Cryo-EM structure and polar assembly of the PS2 S-layer of Corynebacterium glutamicum | PNAS The polar-growing Corynebacteriales have a complex cell envelope architecture characterized by the presence of a specialized outer membrane compose...

Happy to see the final version out! Cryo-EM structure of the PS2 S-layer in Corynebacterium 🔬! We show it provides mechanical support to the cell wall and assembles at the poles in coordination with PG. It can also be used for covalent surface display.

www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...

#microsky

In our latest preprint we used cryoEM to solve the structure of A-ENA fibers and show that they are stabilized by 10 isopeptide bonds per monomer. A-ENA couples the spore to the cry-toxins, and in doing so increases the virulence of Bacillus thuringiensis: www.researchsquare.com/article/rs-6...