P. Chien

Comparison of CcrM-dependent methylation in Caulobacter crescentus and Brucella abortus by nanopore sequencing

This paper uses nanopore sequencing to compare CcrM-dependent DNA methylation in Caulobacter crescentus and Brucella abortus, revealing differences in methylation patterns and regulatory mechanisms.

Proteolytic control of FixT by the Lon protease impacts FixLJ signaling in Caulobacter crescentus

The paper investigates how Lon protease degradation of FixT affects FixLJ signaling in Caulobacter crescentus, showing that FixT dynamics influence heme biosynthesis but not other Lon-related phenotypes.

Regulation of the transcription factor CdnL promotes adaptation to nutrient stress in Caulobacter

This study shows that CdnL is downregulated during the stringent response in Caulobacter, and its clearance is essential for adaptation to nutrient fluctuations.

Proteomic survey of the DNA damage response in Caulobacter crescentus

This study performs a proteomic survey of the DNA damage response in Caulobacter crescentus, identifying novel factors and dynamics not captured by transcriptional studies.

A legacy role for DNA binding of Lon protects against genotoxic stress

The paper shows that Lon protease DNA binding protects bacteria and mitochondria from genotoxic stress by clearing bound proteins.

Clamp loader processing is important during DNA replication stress

This study shows that DnaX processing is important for resolving replication fork stalling during DNA replication stress in Caulobacter.

EstG is a novel esterase required for cell envelope integrity

This study identifies EstG, a novel esterase in Caulobacter crescentus that protects against cellular stress by acting on cyclic osmoregulated periplasmic glucans rather than the cell wall.

Live-Cell Imaging of (p)ppGpp with RNA-based Fluorescent Sensors

This paper develops RNA-based fluorescent sensors to directly image and measure (p)ppGpp in live bacterial cells, revealing cell-to-cell variation and dynamics under different nutritional conditions.

mtDNA replication in dysfunctional mitochondria promotes deleterious heteroplasmy via the UPRmt

The paper shows ATFS-1 promotes {Delta}mtDNA replication by recruiting POLG, while LONP-1 inhibition increases wildtype mtDNA binding and improves heteroplasmy ratio and OXPHOS function.

Degradation of Lon in Caulobacter crescentus

This study shows that Lon protease levels in Caulobacter crescentus are controlled by proteolysis involving Lon and ClpAP, with a carboxy-terminal histidine residue critical for recognition.

Cargo competition for a dimerization interface stabilizes a protease adaptor in Caulobacter crescentus

This study shows that cargo binding competes with dimerization of RcdA, stabilizing the protease adaptor and enabling selective substrate degradation in Caulobacter crescentus.

The Lon protease links nucleotide metabolism with proteotoxic stress

This study shows that the Lon protease in Caulobacter crescentus regulates dNTP pools by degrading CcrM, linking nucleotide metabolism with proteotoxic stress response.

The conserved transcriptional regulator CdnL is required for metabolic homeostasis and morphogenesis in Caulobacter

This study shows that CdnL is essential for metabolic homeostasis and morphogenesis in Caulobacter crescentus by regulating biosynthetic gene expression and lipid II production.

Lon recognition of the replication initiator DnaA is not confined to a single degron

This study identifies that Lon protease recognizes DnaA through multiple elements, not a single degron, and shows that both the ATPase domain and a species-specific N-terminal motif are important for DnaA degradation.

The polar localization hub protein PopZ restrains adaptor dependent ClpXP proteolysis in Caulobacter crescentus

This study shows that PopZ restrains ClpXP proteolysis by inactivating the CpdR adaptor in Caulobacter crescentus, contrary to the expectation that polar localization is required for ClpXP activation.