Journal of Microbiology

Journal Article

Crystal structure of the phage-encoded N-acetyltransferase in complex with acetyl-CoA, revealing a novel dimeric arrangement: Nayeon Ki , Inseong Jo , Yongseong Hyun , Jinwook Lee , Nam-Chul Ha , Hyun-Myung Oh; J. Microbiol. 2022;60(7):746-755. Published online July 4, 2022; DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12275-022-2030-2

Abstract: Bacteriophages employ diverse mechanisms to facilitate the proliferation of bacteriophages. The Salmonella-infecting phage SPN3US contains a putative N-acetyltransferase, which is widely found in bacteriophages. However, due to low sequence similarity to the N-acetyltransferases from bacteria and eukaryotic cells, the structure and function of phage-encoded acetyltransferases are mainly unknown. This study determines the crystal structure of the putative N-acetyltransferase of SPN3US in complex with acetyl-CoA. The crystal structure showed a novel homodimeric arrangement stabilized by exchanging the C-terminal α-helix within the dimer. The following biochemical analyses suggested that the phageencoded acetyltransferase might have a very narrow substrate specificity. Further studies are required to reveal the biochemical activity, which would help elucidate the interaction between the phage and host bacteria in controlling pathogenic bacteria.

Fibroblast Growth Factor 11 Inhibits Hepatitis B Virus Gene Expression Through FXRα Suppression: Mi So Seong , Jeong Ah Jang , Ye Rim Jeong , Ye Bin Kim , Yi Yi Kyaw , Hee Jeong Kong , Jung-Hyun Lee , JaeHun Cheong; J. Microbiol. 2023;61(7): 693-702.; DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12275-023-00065-1

Abstract: Fibroblast growth factor 11 (FGF11) is a member of the intracellular FGF family, which shows different signal transmission compared with other FGF superfamily members. The molecular function of FGF11 is not clearly understood. In this study, we identified the inhibitory effect of FGF11 on hepatitis B virus (HBV) gene expression through transcriptional suppression. FGF11 decreased the mRNA and protein expression of HBV genes in liver cells. While the nuclear receptor FXRα1 increased HBV promoter transactivation, FGF11 decreased the FXRα-mediated gene induction of the HBV promoter by the FXRα agonist. Reduced endogenous levels of FXRα by siRNA and the dominant negative mutant protein (aa 1–187 without ligand binding domain) of FXRα expression indicated that HBV gene suppression by FGF11 is dependent on FXRα inhibition. In addition, FGF11 interacts with FXRα protein and reduces FXRα protein stability. These results indicate that FGF11 inhibits HBV replicative expression through the liver cell-specific transcription factor, FXRα, and suppresses HBV promoter activity. Our findings may contribute to the establishment of better regimens for the treatment of chronic HBV infections by including FGF11 to alter the bile acid mediated FXR pathway.

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