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Genome mining uncovers desferrioxamine biosynthesis

June 12, 2025

Genome mining uncovers desferrioxamine biosynthesis

Most biosynthetic gene clusters remain uncharacterized, making it difficult to predict their functions and activate their expression. By integrating regulatory network analysis with global gene expression data, Hannah Augustijn, Zachary Reitz, Marnix Medema, Gilles van Wezel and colleagues identify desJGH, a novel operon essential for biosynthesis of the iron overload drug desferrioxamine B in Streptomyces coelicolor. Don't miss the Primer by Justin Nodwell.

Image credit: pbio.3003183

PLOS Biologue

Community blog for PLOS Biology, PLOS Genetics and PLOS Computational Biology.

PLOS BIOLOGUE

06/12/2025

Research Article

Synaptic dynamics during the sleep–wake cycle

Conflicting results have been observed regarding changes in synaptic strength in the cerebral cortex during the sleep-wake cycle. This computational study by Fukuaki Kinoshita, Hiroki Ueda and co-workers provides a comprehensive understanding and unified framework about synaptic dynamics during the sleep-wake cycle.

Image credit: pbio.3003198

Synaptic dynamics during the sleep–wake cycle

Recently Published Articles

Current Issue

Current Issue May 2025

06/12/2025

Research Article

Mutant EZH2 in B cell lymphoma

Epigenetic regulators such as EZH2 are known to be mutated in B cell lymphomas, but the effect of these mutations remains unclear. Ofir Griess, Guy Ron, Efrat Shema and co-authors uncover a role for mutant EZH2 in lymphomagenesis, also establishing a new method for measuring epigenetic heterogeneity and intra-chromatin connectivity in cancer cells. Also see the related Primer by Daniel Holoch and Raphaël Margueron.

Image credit: pbio.3003191

Mutant EZH2 in B cell lymphoma

06/12/2025

Methods and Resources

Human host factors for SARS-CoV-2 replication and late infection

Most genetic screens characterize host factors important for the early stages of viral infection. Xin Yin, Yuan Pu, Laura Martin-Sancho, Sumit Chanda and colleagues use a genome-scale siRNA screen to uncover key pathways influencing both early and late stages of infection, including the non-canonical NF-κB pathway.

Image credit: pbio.3002738

Human host factors for SARS-CoV-2 replication and late infection

06/10/2025

Research Article

Liquid–liquid phase separation in the presynaptic active zone

Gaowei Jin, Joaquín Campos, Yang Liu, Fredrik Sterky, Claudio Acuna, Zhiyi Wei and co-workers solve the crystal structure of the liprin-α2/RIM1 complex and show that this interaction is essential for synaptic transmission and the coupling of calcium channels with primed synaptic vesicles in an LLPS-dependent manner. Don't miss the Primer by Janine Lützkendorf and Stephan Sigrist.

Liquid–liquid phase separation in the presynaptic active zone

Image credit: pbio.3002817

06/09/2025

Research Article

Pan-genetics reveals hidden variation in flowering time

Effects of variants at one gene can be modified by variants at other loci; an example is the FLC gene which helps determine flowering time variation in Arabidopsis thaliana. This analysis of FLC mutants across 62 natural genetic backgrounds, by Ulrich Lutz, Detlef Weigel and colleagues, showcases the potential of pan-genetic analysis of hub genes to reveal the extent of their broader genetic network.

Pan-genetics reveals hidden variation in flowering time

Image credit: pbio.3003226

06/05/2025

Short Report

tRNA half regulates cell cycle progression

Androgen receptor-positive prostate cancer cells abundantly express hormone-dependent tRNA halves, but their functions are unclear. Takuya Kawamura, Megumi Shigematsu and Yohei Kirino show that the 5′-tRNALysCUU half promotes cell cycle progression by destabilizing the mRNA of p21, a negative regulator, suggesting a general role for these molecules.

tRNA half regulates cell cycle progression

Image credit: pbio.3003194

06/11/2025

Essay

Migraine aura and headache

The relationship between migraine aura and headache has been the subject of a long-standing debate. This Essay delves into the mechanistic and pathophysiological links between migraine aura and headache.

Migraine aura and headache

Image credit: pbio.3003168

06/10/2025

Perspective

The fifth era of science: AI

Can AI become a true scientist? Nina Miolane explores how new technologies are reshaping scientific discovery, and why human expertise remains essential as we enter a new era of research powered by intelligent algorithms.

The fifth era of science: AI

Image credit: pbio.3003230

05/20/2025

Perspective

Ocean sanctuaries for captive cetaceans

Increasing concerns over the welfare of captive cetaceans have led to calls for their transfer to sanctuaries. This Perspective describes an unprecedented collaboration to develop the first accreditation guidelines for authentic ocean sanctuaries.

Ocean sanctuaries for captive cetaceans

Image credit: pbio.3003166

05/15/2025

Perspective

Is pathogen prediction possible?

To what extent can we predict future pathogenic microbes? Arturo Casadevall discusses why complex requirements for virulence and dynamic host-microbe interactions make probabilistic predictions difficult, but not impossible.

Is pathogen prediction possible?

Image credit: pbio.3003162

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