E. P. Balskus

Elucidation of chalkophomycin biosynthesis reveals N-hydroxypyrrole-forming enzymes

The paper identifies and characterizes enzymes involved in N-hydroxypyrrole biosynthesis, revealing new insights into the formation of unique functional groups in natural products.

Prevotella are major contributors of sialidases in the human vaginal microbiome.

This study identifies Prevotella as a major source of sialidases in the vaginal microbiome, showing their prevalence and activity compared to Gardnerella.

Prevotella timonensis degrades the vaginal epithelial glycocalyx through high fucosidase and sialidase activities

This study identifies P. timonensis as a BV-associated bacterium with high mucin-degrading enzyme activity that removes protective glycocalyx sugars from vaginal epithelium.

Identification and targeting of microbial putrescine acetylation in bloodstream infections

The paper identifies bacterially-derived N-acetylputrescine as a marker of severe gram-negative bloodstream infections and shows that inhibiting its synthesis reduces bacterial growth and antibiotic resistance.

Bacterial Sphingolipids Exacerbate Colitis by Inhibiting ILC3-derived IL-22 Production.

This study shows that bacterial sphingolipids worsen colitis by reducing IL-22 production from ILC3 cells in mice.

Structural Basis for an Unprecedented Enzymatic Alkylation in Cylindrocyclophane Biosynthesis

This paper determines the structure and mechanism of the cyanobacterial enzyme CylK, which performs unique alkylation reactions in cylindrocyclophane biosynthesis.

The Stickland fermentation precursor trans-4-hydroxyproline differentially impacts the metabolism of Clostridioides difficile and commensal Clostridia

This study investigates how trans-4-hydroxyproline affects the metabolism of C. difficile and commensal Clostridia, revealing differential gene expression and microbiota changes in mice.

Identification and characterization of bacterial glycogen-degrading enzymes in the vaginal microbiome

This study identifies and characterizes bacterial glycogen-degrading enzymes in the vaginal microbiome, showing their activity and expression across different community states.

Cysteine dependence in Lactobacillus iners constitutes a novel therapeutic target to modify the vaginal microbiota

This study identifies cysteine dependence in Lactobacillus iners as a therapeutic target to shift vaginal microbiota from L. iners-dominant to L. crispatus-dominant states.

The gut bacterial natural product colibactin triggers induction of latent viruses in diverse bacteria

This study shows colibactin induces prophage lytic development in bacteria, with resistance mechanisms observed across diverse taxa.

Elucidation of an anaerobic pathway for metabolism of L-carnitine-derived γ-butyrobetaine to trimethylamine in human gut bacteria

This paper identifies an anaerobic pathway in gut bacteria that converts γ-butyrobetaine to trimethylamine, showing it is a major contributor to TMA production from L-carnitine in the human gut.

Distribution and diversity of dimetal-carboxylate halogenases in cyanobacteria

This study identifies and characterizes the distribution and diversity of dimetal-carboxylate halogenases in cyanobacteria using genome mining and PCR-based screening.

Structure and assembly of the diiron cofactor in the heme-oxygenase-like domain of the N-nitrosourea-producing enzyme SznF

This paper investigates the assembly of the diiron cofactor in the SznF enzyme, revealing structural changes and an unexpected glutamate ligand that aids in function assignment.

The L-alanosine gene cluster encodes a pathway for diazeniumdiolate biosynthesis

This paper identifies a gene cluster in Streptomyces alanosinicus responsible for diazeniumdiolate biosynthesis and characterizes the pathway's key enzymes and intermediates.

A widely distributed metalloenzyme class enables gut microbial metabolism of host- and diet-derived catechols

The paper identifies a molybdenum-dependent enzyme in gut bacteria that dehydroxylates catechols, revealing its role in microbial metabolism and broader ecological relevance.

The reactivity of an unusual amidase may explain colibactin’s DNA cross-linking activity

This paper identifies ClbL as an amidase enzyme that forms amide bonds, contributing to colibactin's DNA cross-linking activity by incorporating electrophilic warheads into its structure.

In vitro characterization of the colibactin-activating peptidase ClbP enables development of a fluorogenic activity probe

This study characterizes the in vitro activity of ClbP, a peptidase involved in colibactin biosynthesis, and develops a fluorogenic probe to detect its activity.

Glutamic acid is a carrier for hydrazine during the biosyntheses of fosfazinomycin and kinamycin

The paper shows that glutamic acid carries hydrazine during the biosynthesis of fosfazinomycin and kinamycin, forming an N-N bond through an acetylhydrazine intermediate.