Ubiquitin-like protein-mediated sulfur trafficking facilitates hyperthermophile dispersal in sulfur-limited environments
ABSTRACT While hyperthermophilic archaea thriving in hydrothermal vent ecosystems have been extensively studied for their remarkable adaptations to geochemical extremes, the molecular underpinnings of their dispersal strategies remain enigmatic. Central to this challenge lies their capacity to survi...
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American Society for Microbiology
2025-08-01
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| Series: | mBio |
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| Online Access: | https://journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/mbio.01072-25 |
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| author | Peng Zhou Xue-Qing He Qi-Liang Lai Yue-Hong Wu |
| author_facet | Peng Zhou Xue-Qing He Qi-Liang Lai Yue-Hong Wu |
| author_sort | Peng Zhou |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | ABSTRACT While hyperthermophilic archaea thriving in hydrothermal vent ecosystems have been extensively studied for their remarkable adaptations to geochemical extremes, the molecular underpinnings of their dispersal strategies remain enigmatic. Central to this challenge lies their capacity to survive in environments with limited elemental sulfur (S0). The recent study by Hidese et al. (mBio 15:e00534-24, 2024, https://doi.org/10.1128/mbio.00534-24) provides critical mechanistic insights by elucidating the functional roles of three ubiquitin-like proteins (Ubls) as sulfur carriers in Thermococcus kodakarensis. These Ubls facilitate metabolic flexibility in sulfur utilization, and the Ubl-involved sulfur relay system represents an elegant adaptive solution for persistence in S0-limited niches. By enabling efficient sulfur mobilization from cysteine stores, the organism achieves metabolic homeostasis under S0 deprivation, such as biosynthesis of essential biomolecules. These findings not only reveal a previously unrecognized adaptive paradigm in sulfur utilization among hyperthermophilic archaea but also underscore the importance of metabolic plasticity for microbial dispersal and evolution. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-7f82e236bc1e4fa18d7a5607f583aaf6 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2150-7511 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-08-01 |
| publisher | American Society for Microbiology |
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| series | mBio |
| spelling | doaj-art-7f82e236bc1e4fa18d7a5607f583aaf62025-08-20T03:36:30ZengAmerican Society for MicrobiologymBio2150-75112025-08-0116810.1128/mbio.01072-25Ubiquitin-like protein-mediated sulfur trafficking facilitates hyperthermophile dispersal in sulfur-limited environmentsPeng Zhou0Xue-Qing He1Qi-Liang Lai2Yue-Hong Wu3State Key Laboratory of Submarine Geoscience, Second Institute of Oceanography, Ministry of Natural Resources, Hangzhou, People's Republic of ChinaState Key Laboratory of Submarine Geoscience, Second Institute of Oceanography, Ministry of Natural Resources, Hangzhou, People's Republic of ChinaKey Laboratory of Marine Genetic Resources, Third Institute of Oceanography, Ministry of Natural Resources, Xiamen, People's Republic of ChinaState Key Laboratory of Submarine Geoscience, Second Institute of Oceanography, Ministry of Natural Resources, Hangzhou, People's Republic of ChinaABSTRACT While hyperthermophilic archaea thriving in hydrothermal vent ecosystems have been extensively studied for their remarkable adaptations to geochemical extremes, the molecular underpinnings of their dispersal strategies remain enigmatic. Central to this challenge lies their capacity to survive in environments with limited elemental sulfur (S0). The recent study by Hidese et al. (mBio 15:e00534-24, 2024, https://doi.org/10.1128/mbio.00534-24) provides critical mechanistic insights by elucidating the functional roles of three ubiquitin-like proteins (Ubls) as sulfur carriers in Thermococcus kodakarensis. These Ubls facilitate metabolic flexibility in sulfur utilization, and the Ubl-involved sulfur relay system represents an elegant adaptive solution for persistence in S0-limited niches. By enabling efficient sulfur mobilization from cysteine stores, the organism achieves metabolic homeostasis under S0 deprivation, such as biosynthesis of essential biomolecules. These findings not only reveal a previously unrecognized adaptive paradigm in sulfur utilization among hyperthermophilic archaea but also underscore the importance of metabolic plasticity for microbial dispersal and evolution.https://journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/mbio.01072-25hyperthermophilehydrothermal ventdispersalcysteine desulfuraseubiquitin-like proteins |
| spellingShingle | Peng Zhou Xue-Qing He Qi-Liang Lai Yue-Hong Wu Ubiquitin-like protein-mediated sulfur trafficking facilitates hyperthermophile dispersal in sulfur-limited environments mBio hyperthermophile hydrothermal vent dispersal cysteine desulfurase ubiquitin-like proteins |
| title | Ubiquitin-like protein-mediated sulfur trafficking facilitates hyperthermophile dispersal in sulfur-limited environments |
| title_full | Ubiquitin-like protein-mediated sulfur trafficking facilitates hyperthermophile dispersal in sulfur-limited environments |
| title_fullStr | Ubiquitin-like protein-mediated sulfur trafficking facilitates hyperthermophile dispersal in sulfur-limited environments |
| title_full_unstemmed | Ubiquitin-like protein-mediated sulfur trafficking facilitates hyperthermophile dispersal in sulfur-limited environments |
| title_short | Ubiquitin-like protein-mediated sulfur trafficking facilitates hyperthermophile dispersal in sulfur-limited environments |
| title_sort | ubiquitin like protein mediated sulfur trafficking facilitates hyperthermophile dispersal in sulfur limited environments |
| topic | hyperthermophile hydrothermal vent dispersal cysteine desulfurase ubiquitin-like proteins |
| url | https://journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/mbio.01072-25 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT pengzhou ubiquitinlikeproteinmediatedsulfurtraffickingfacilitateshyperthermophiledispersalinsulfurlimitedenvironments AT xueqinghe ubiquitinlikeproteinmediatedsulfurtraffickingfacilitateshyperthermophiledispersalinsulfurlimitedenvironments AT qilianglai ubiquitinlikeproteinmediatedsulfurtraffickingfacilitateshyperthermophiledispersalinsulfurlimitedenvironments AT yuehongwu ubiquitinlikeproteinmediatedsulfurtraffickingfacilitateshyperthermophiledispersalinsulfurlimitedenvironments |