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Updated: Dec 11, 2025

A Novel Saturation Mutagenesis Approach: Single Step Characterization of Regulatory Protein Binding Sites in RNA Using Phosphorothioates
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A Novel Saturation Mutagenesis Approach: Single Step Characterization of Regulatory Protein Binding Sites in RNA Using Phosphorothioates

Published on: August 21, 2018

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DNA Phosphorothioate Modifications Are Widely Distributed in the Human Microbiome

Yihua Sun1, Lingxin Kong1, Guojun Wu1

  • 1State Key Laboratory of Microbial Metabolism, Joint International Research Laboratory of Metabolic and Developmental Sciences, and School of Life Sciences & Biotechnology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China.

Biomolecules
|August 19, 2020
PubMed

Insights

DNA phosphorothioate (PT) modification is found in over 2000 bacterial strains within the human microbiome, particularly in the gut. This study identified new PT modification patterns, revealing the human gut as a diverse reservoir for these microbes.

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Genomics
  • Molecular Biology

Background:

  • DNA phosphorothioate (PT) modification is common in prokaryotes, impacting gene transfer, transcription, and fitness.
  • Previous studies have not explored PT-containing bacteria within the human microbiome.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the distribution and characteristics of PT-harboring bacterial strains in the human microbiome.
  • To identify novel PT modification patterns in human gut DNA.

Main Methods:

  • Bioinformatic analysis of over 2000 PT gene-containing bacterial strains.
  • Assessment of PT modification patterns and quantification of PT-linked dinucleotides in human fecal DNA.

Main Results:

  • Over 2000 PT gene-containing strains were identified across various body sites, with a high prevalence in the gastrointestinal tract.
  • PT-modifying genes were found in diverse genera like *Pseudomonas*, *Clostridioides*, and *Escherichia*.
  • Six new PT-linked dinucleotides were discovered in human fecal DNA, indicating varied PT modification patterns.

Conclusions:

  • The human microbiome serves as a significant reservoir for bacteria with DNA phosphorothioate modifications.
  • A wide array of PT modification patterns exists within the human gut microbiome, suggesting potential functional roles.
Keywords:
DNA modificationDNA phosphorothioationgut microbiomemicrobiome

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