Never a Dull Enzyme https://schaechter.asmblog.org/schaechter/2024/05/never-a-dull-enzyme.html @STCmicrobeblog

Emergence of fractal geometries in the #evolution of a metabolic enzyme: Franziska Sendker et al. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-024-07287-2

"Citrate synthase from S. elongatus has the peculiar capacity to self-assemble into a type of #fractal shape known as a #Sierpiński triangle. This is not a universal feature of citrate synthases, there's something unique about the one from this #cyanobacterium."

#bacteria #microbes #cyanobacteria #fractals

How a #cyanobacterium manages #iron scarcity makes it the most successful #photosynthetic organism on Earth.

#Prochlorococcus #FutA #protein #redox

https://phys.org/news/2024-04-cyanobacterium-iron-scarcity-successful-photosynthetic.html

Altered #light-harvesting complex in a #cyanobacterium allows low-energy light use

#photosynthesis #far_red_light #photoacclimation

https://phys.org/news/2024-01-harvesting-complex-cyanobacterium-energy.html

Two years ago, the same team established that the first toxin from the #cyanobacterium is the cause of a mysterious disease among bald #eagles in the USA.
#Microbiology #Medical #Veterinary #sflorg
https://www.sflorg.com/2023/09/mcb09272301.html

Infamous '#EagleKiller' #bacterium produces not one, but two #toxins https://phys.org/news/2023-09-infamous-eagle-killer-bacterium-toxins.html

The #freshwater #cyanobacterium #Aetokthonos hydrillicola produces highly #toxic dolastatin derivatives https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.2219230120

"Even in low concentrations, this #toxin can destroy cells and is similar to substances currently used in cancer treatment. Two years ago, the same team established that the first toxin from the cyanobacterium is the cause of a mysterious disease among #BaldEagles in the USA."

A new #preprint #OpenScience #PeerReview by @PCI_Zoology: Houwenhuyse S et al. #Microbiome mediated tolerance to biotic stressors: a case study of the interaction between a toxic #cyanobacterium and an oomycete-like infection in #Daphniamagna. #Zoology. https://doi.org/10.31219/osf.io/9n4mg