Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 4, 2025

Metal-Limited Growth of Neisseria gonorrhoeae for Characterization of Metal-Responsive Genes and Metal Acquisition from Host Ligands
Published on: March 4, 2020
Metalloproteome plasticity - a factor in bacterial pathogen adaptive responses?
1Australian Infectious Diseases Research Centre, School of Chemistry and Biosciences, The University of Queensland, St Lucia 4072, Australia.
Abstract:
Through homeostatic processes, bacterial cells maintain intracytoplasmic metal ions at concentrations which enable the 'correct' metal to be inserted into an enzyme, thereby ensuring function. However, fluctuations in intracytoplasmic metal ion concentrations mean that under different conditions certain enzymes may contain different metals at their active site. This perspective describes examples of such cases and suggests that metalloproteome plasticity may contribute to the dynamic adaptation of pathogens to stresses in the host environment.
Related Concept Videos
Defense Against Bacterial Pathogens
Phagocytes
Phagocytes are the frontline soldiers of the immune system. They include neutrophils and macrophages. Neutrophils are the most abundant type of white blood cell and are quickly mobilized to the site of infection. Macrophages are larger cells that patrol...
Antibiotic Selection
Antimicrobial Proteins
Interferons
Interferons (IFNs) are proteins produced by lymphocytes, macrophages, and fibroblasts infected with viruses. While IFNs cannot prevent viruses from entering and...
Mismatch Repair
CRISPR and crRNAs
The CRISPR-Cas system stores a copy of foreign DNA in the host genome and uses it to identify the foreign DNA upon reinfection. CRISPR-Cas has three different...
Genomic DNA in Prokaryotes
Genomic Diversity in Bacteria
Although bacterial genomes are much...

