Location
University of Nevada, Las Vegas
Start Date
3-8-2010 9:00 AM
End Date
3-8-2010 12:00 PM
Description
Many bacterial species including those in the Bacilli group form spores as a mechanism to survive harsh conditions such as extreme temperature, radiation, chemicals, and nutrient starvation. By forming spores, they can remain metabolically dormant for an extended period and revert to their vegetative form when environment becomes favorable. This resumption of metabolism and growth is marked by a process called germination that is triggered by exogenous nutrients such as amino acids, sugars, and nucleotides. The (Ger) germination receptors that are postulated to respond to these germinants, in the case of B. subtilis and B. megaterium, are a complex of at least three different proteins (the A-, B-, and C- subunits) transcribed from the same operon. While similar in gene arrangement and protein complex formation, these two Bacilli sp. respond to different germinants. This experiment investigates the GerA receptor of B. subtilis and the GerU receptor from B. megaterium. GerA of B. subtilis is activated with L-alanine, while GerU of B. megaterium is activated with L-proline. In order to determine the location of the binding site, different fragments of the GerAB gene and the GerUB genes encoding for protein A and B from each operon were amplified and fused together in frame to make a chimeric gene product. recombination. Spores from B. subtilis mutant strains expressing chimeric protein complexes will be tested for germination in the presence of L-proline and/or L-alanine. These studies will provide insights into how bacteria sense their environment and possible strategies to control and prevent growth.
Keywords
Bacillus megaterium; Bacillus subtilis — Genetics; Bacterial spores; Genetic regulation; Germination
Disciplines
Bacteriology | Genetics and Genomics | Life Sciences
Language
English
Examination of germination receptors of B. subtilis and B. megaterium
University of Nevada, Las Vegas
Many bacterial species including those in the Bacilli group form spores as a mechanism to survive harsh conditions such as extreme temperature, radiation, chemicals, and nutrient starvation. By forming spores, they can remain metabolically dormant for an extended period and revert to their vegetative form when environment becomes favorable. This resumption of metabolism and growth is marked by a process called germination that is triggered by exogenous nutrients such as amino acids, sugars, and nucleotides. The (Ger) germination receptors that are postulated to respond to these germinants, in the case of B. subtilis and B. megaterium, are a complex of at least three different proteins (the A-, B-, and C- subunits) transcribed from the same operon. While similar in gene arrangement and protein complex formation, these two Bacilli sp. respond to different germinants. This experiment investigates the GerA receptor of B. subtilis and the GerU receptor from B. megaterium. GerA of B. subtilis is activated with L-alanine, while GerU of B. megaterium is activated with L-proline. In order to determine the location of the binding site, different fragments of the GerAB gene and the GerUB genes encoding for protein A and B from each operon were amplified and fused together in frame to make a chimeric gene product. recombination. Spores from B. subtilis mutant strains expressing chimeric protein complexes will be tested for germination in the presence of L-proline and/or L-alanine. These studies will provide insights into how bacteria sense their environment and possible strategies to control and prevent growth.
Comments
Poster research sponsored by NIH INBRE