Biology subjects

Migueles-Lozano, A.

Publications and source records attributed to Migueles-Lozano, A..

3 recordsLinked to original sources

bioRxiv2026

A C-terminal Processing Protease Implicated in Flagellin Turnover and Developmental Progression in a Bacterial Predator

Carboxy-terminal processing proteases (CTPs) are widely conserved bacterial proteases implicated in protein maturation, quality control, and stress responses, yet many family members functions remain unclear. Here, we characterise Bd0967, a previously unstudied CTP from the predatory bacterium Bdellovibrio bacteriovorus, and its role in flagellar function during predatory development. Crystal structures reveal a self-compartmentalised protease in which a PDZ domain forms a lid over a large internal cavity accessed through a proteolytic tunnel. Co-purifying peptides occupied two distinct substrate-binding sites, suggesting a coordinated recognition mechanism. Affinity pulldowns coupled with mass spectrometry identified several Bdellovibrio flagellins as candidate substrates, which were subsequently validated by biochemical assays and shown to be selectively degraded through recognition of a conserved C-terminal motif. A Bd0967-mCherry translational fusion localised to periplasmic foci during the intracellular predatory growth, consistent with flagellar resorption and flagellin turnover following prey invasion. Deletion of bd0967 caused developmental defects, including aberrant Bdellovibrio cell morphology and reduced predation efficiency. Together, these findings establish Bd0967 as a specialised CTP that couples flagellin degradation and developmental progression in a predatory bacterium.

biochemistry↗

bioRxiv2025

Regulatory Plasticity and Metabolic Trade-offs Drive Adaptive Evolution of Alternative Flagellar Configurations in Pseudomonas aeruginosa

Evolutionary constraints governing flagellar number in bacterial pathogens remain poorly understood. While related Pseudomonas species are hyperflagellated, P. aeruginosa maintains strict monoflagellation through the FleQ-FleN regulatory circuit. Here, we demonstrate that FleN dosage is essential for maintaining monoflagellation and bacterial fitness. Wild-type P. aeruginosa consistently displayed unipolar monoflagellation, while {Delta}fleN mutants developed over two-to-five flagella per cell in uni- or bipolar arrangements. Hyperflagellated {Delta}fleN cells exhibited severe fitness defects including reduced growth rates, attenuated virulence in nematode infection models, and competitive disadvantages in co-culture experiments. Remarkably, {Delta}fleN cells rapidly evolved suppressor mutations in fleQ that partially restored growth and motility without always restoring monoflagellation. Five independent suppressor alleles mapped to critical FleQ functional domains (four in the AAA+ ATPase domain, one in the DNA-binding domain), suggesting reduced protein activity that rebalances the disrupted regulatory circuit. Single-cell motility analysis revealed that suppressor strains exhibit heterogeneous swimming dynamics, with subpopulations achieving wild-type speeds despite carrying multiple flagella. Proteomic analysis demonstrated that hyperflagellation triggers extensive cellular reprogramming beyond flagellar components, affecting metabolic pathways, stress responses, and signaling networks. While hyperflagellated cells suffered complete loss of pathogenicity in animal infection models, environmental selection under viscous conditions could drive wild-type cells to evolve enhanced motility through specific fleN mutations. These findings suggest that bacterial flagellar regulatory circuits function as evolutionary capacitors, normally constraining phenotypic variation but enabling rapid adaptation to alternative motility configurations when environmental pressures exceed the performance limits of standard monotrichous flagellation. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENTBacterial flagella are extracellular appendages that rotate to propel the cell and enable swimming motility. While some bacteria have multiple flagella, many pathogenic species like Pseudomonas aeruginosa have just one. Surprisingly, mutants of P. aeruginosa with multiple flagella performed worse, i.e., they grew more slowly, were less infectious in laboratory animals, and were outcompeted by wild-type bacteria. Even when some mutant bacteria evolved compensatory changes, they still struggled compared to single-flagellum bacteria. This reveals an important evolutionary trade-off: while multiple flagella might seem advantageous for movement, having just one flagellum allows bacteria to grow faster and cause more severe infections. This plasticity likely explains why P. aeruginosa is so successful both in the environment and as a human pathogen.

microbiology↗

bioRxiv2021

Hox genes regulate asexual reproductive behavior and tissue segmentation in adult animals

Hox genes are highly conserved transcription factors renowned for their roles in the segmental patterning of the embryonic anterior-posterior (A/P) axis1. Emerging evidence for Hox gene expression and function in postnatally derived structures has fueled interest in their additional roles beyond embryogenesis2,3. We report novel functions for Hox genes in A/P adult tissue segmentation and transverse fission behavior underlying asexual reproduction in the planarian flatworm, Schmidtea mediterranea. Silencing of each of the planarian Hox family members identified 5 Hox genes required for asexual reproduction. Among these, silencing of hox3 genes resulted in supernumerary segments, while silencing of post2b eliminated segmentation altogether. The opposing roles of hox3 and post2b in segmentation are paralleled in their respective regulation of fission behavior. Silencing of hox3 increased the frequency of fission behavior initiation, while silencing of post2b eliminated fission behavior entirely. Furthermore, we identified a network of downstream effector genes mediating Hox gene regulation of asexual reproduction, thereby providing insight into their respective mechanisms of action. Our study establishes postembryonic roles for Hox genes in regulating the emergence of tissue segmentation and specific behaviors associated with asexual reproduction in adult animals.

developmental biology↗