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Project 4:
Ion and solute homeostasis in enteric bacteria: an integrated view generated from the interface of modelling and biological experimentation
The principal research objective is to understand, via molecular analysis and predictive modelling, the regulation of ionic homeostasis in bacteria and its role in regulating the integration of gene expression and metabolism. Bacterial cells attempt to regulate the cytoplasmic constitution close to an optimum for cell growth – pH ~7.8, ~0.3 M K+ and ~0.2 M anions, principally glutamate. This is achieved by environmentally driven regulation of the activity and expression of a group of solute transporters and ion channels. Modification of the cytoplasmic constitution plays a key role in modulating the topology of DNA, the activity of RNA polymerase subunits augmented by very specific effects on regulatory transcription factors. The effects of these integrated elements are not only essential for growth, but also modulate the survival potential of pathogenic organisms. The proposed work builds upon established links between the research groups and fundamental research programmes in their laboratories that involve both quantitative and qualitative modelling. The successful delivery of the programme will deliver new insights microbial cell biology.
Project partners:
Ian Booth, University of Aberdeen, UK (Project Coordinator)
Samantha Miller, University of Aberdeen, UK
Kirsten Jung, University of Munich, Germany
Bert Poolman, University of Groningen, The Netherlands
Julio R. Banga, CSIC Vigo, Spain
Celso Grebogi, University of Aberdeen, UK
Alessandro de Moura, University of Aberdeen, UK
Zoya Ignatova, Max-Planck-Institute of Biochemistry Martinsried, Germany
Andreas Kremling, Max-Planck-Institute Magdeburg, Germany
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