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Analysis of institutional authors

Blesa AAuthorBaquedano IAuthorBerenguer JCorresponding Author

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Article

Role of archaeal HerA protein in the biology of the bacterium thermus thermophilus

Publicated to:Genes. 8 (5): 467- - 2017-05-01 8(5), DOI: 10.3390/genes8050130

Authors: Blesa A., Quintans N.G., Baquedano I., Mata C.P., Castón J.R., Berenguer J.

Affiliations

CSIC - Centro Nacional de Biotecnologia (CNB) - Author
CSIC, CNB, Dept Struct Macromol, E-28049 Madrid, Spain - Author
Univ Autonoma Madrid, CSIC, Ctr Biol Mol Severo Ochoa, Calle Nicolas Cabrera 1, E-28049 Madrid, Spain - Author
Universidad Autónoma de Madrid - Author

Abstract

Intense gene flux between prokaryotes result in high percentage of archaeal genes in the genome of the thermophilic bacteria Thermus spp. Among these archaeal genes a homolog to the Sulfolobus spp. HerA protein appears in all of the Thermus spp. strains so far sequenced (HepA). The role of HepA in Thermus thermophilus HB27 has been analyzed using deletion mutants, and its structure resolved at low resolution by electron microscopy. Recombinant HepA shows DNA-dependent ATPase activity and its structure revealed a double ring, conically-shaped hexamer with an upper diameter of 150 Å and a bottom module of 95 Å. A central pore was detected in the structure that ranges from 13 Å at one extreme, to 30 Å at the other. Mutants lacking HepA show defective natural competence and DNA donation capability in a conjugation-like process termed "transjugation", and also high sensitivity to UV and dramatic sensitivity to high temperatures. These data support that acquisition of an ancestral archaeal HerA has been fundamental for the adaptation of Thermus spp. to high temperatures.

Keywords

dna repairherahexameric atpaselateral gene transferthermustransformationDna repairHeraHexameric atpaseLateral gene transferThermusTransformationTransjugation

Quality index

Bibliometric impact. Analysis of the contribution and dissemination channel

The work has been published in the journal Genes due to its progression and the good impact it has achieved in recent years, according to the agency Scopus (SJR), it has become a reference in its field. In the year of publication of the work, 2017, it was in position , thus managing to position itself as a Q1 (Primer Cuartil), in the category Genetics.

Independientemente del impacto esperado determinado por el canal de difusión, es importante destacar el impacto real observado de la propia aportación.

Según las diferentes agencias de indexación, el número de citas acumuladas por esta publicación hasta la fecha 2025-06-24:

  • WoS: 3
  • Scopus: 9
  • Europe PMC: 3
  • OpenCitations: 9

Impact and social visibility

From the perspective of influence or social adoption, and based on metrics associated with mentions and interactions provided by agencies specializing in calculating the so-called "Alternative or Social Metrics," we can highlight as of 2025-06-24:

  • The use, from an academic perspective evidenced by the Altmetric agency indicator referring to aggregations made by the personal bibliographic manager Mendeley, gives us a total of: 22.
  • The use of this contribution in bookmarks, code forks, additions to favorite lists for recurrent reading, as well as general views, indicates that someone is using the publication as a basis for their current work. This may be a notable indicator of future more formal and academic citations. This claim is supported by the result of the "Capture" indicator, which yields a total of: 22 (PlumX).

With a more dissemination-oriented intent and targeting more general audiences, we can observe other more global scores such as:

  • The Total Score from Altmetric: 0.75.
  • The number of mentions on the social network X (formerly Twitter): 2 (Altmetric).

It is essential to present evidence supporting full alignment with institutional principles and guidelines on Open Science and the Conservation and Dissemination of Intellectual Heritage. A clear example of this is:

  • The work has been submitted to a journal whose editorial policy allows open Open Access publication.

Leadership analysis of institutional authors

There is a significant leadership presence as some of the institution’s authors appear as the first or last signer, detailed as follows: First Author (BLESA ESTEBAN, ALBA) and Last Author (BERENGUER CARLOS, JOSE).

the author responsible for correspondence tasks has been BERENGUER CARLOS, JOSE.