Communications Biology - Bacteroidota use the Type IX secretion system to secrete proteins with a conserved C-terminal domain (CTD) secretion signal domain. Type B CTDs require specific shuttle...

Nature Structural & Molecular Biology, Published online: 25 August 2025; doi:10.1038/s41594-025-01607-4Here, the authors describe a tubular module connecting oxidoreductases to the membrane. This system, found in many microorganisms, reveals a distinct mode of membrane anchoring and an electron transfer mechanism involved in energy conservation.

The presence of tRNAs in bacteriophage genomes has intrigued scientists since their discovery in the early 1960s, as phages were believed to rely on the host tRNAs for their translation. Over the years, a multitude of hypotheses have been explored, providing evidence that phages with different lifestyles utilize tRNAs in distinct ways. In recent years, several studies have provided evidence that phage tRNAs play a crucial role in evading phage defense systems. In this review we summarize the current state of the field of phage tRNAs, highlighting their diverse roles in phage infection. We also discuss the host response to phage tRNAs and the application of this knowledge to improve phage-based therapeutics to combat bacterial infections.