SI “Metals in microorganisms: from cellular mechanisms to microbial communities”
Eric Capo
with Marisol Goñi and Bahia Khalfaoui-Hassani as guest editors.
Submission deadline is
31 Mai 2022.
https://www.mdpi.com/journal/microorganisms/special_issues/Metals_in_Microorganisms
Metals play significant roles in cellular systems. They are critical for the structural stability and the activity of approximately one-third of proteins, and thus essential for many cellular reactions. Albeit essential, excess of metal ions can be harmful for the cell. In order to adapt to various metal concentrations, cells developed diverse mechanisms to regulate metal contents, including transport and signalization. On the other hand, non-essential metals, with unknown biological functions, can be toxic, even at very low concentrations. The presence of heavy metals in natural environments induces various toxic effects. Studying how organisms acquire, utilize and detoxify metals is hence critical to our understanding of biological process and their relevance regarding natural environments, human health and wildlife. The aim of this special issue is to highlight current studies and knowledge regarding the molecular and the cellular mechanisms of metal acquisition, regulation, biotransformation and resistance carried out by microorganisms. This special issue also tackles with the impact of metal at higher biological scale of complexity since metals drive microbial community composition and dynamics. Studies on the role of metals in community structuration and the capacity of microbial communities to transform, sequester, and detoxify ecosystems are also welcome.