Acetamidobenzoates control the degradation of benzoate and photosynthesis in Rhodopseudomonas palustris Escalante Lab Monday, July 16, 2018 - 2:00am Room 404D, Biological Sciences Building Type of Event: Student Seminars Acetylation of aminobenzoates controls the degradation of benzoate in Rhodopseudomonas Dissertation Defense Seminar Chelsey M. VanDrisse ABSTRACT The use of lignin as an alternative, renewable source of energy has attracted much attention because of the high-energy content of the phenyl derivatives that comprise this important natural polymer. The degradation of lignin-derived aromatics such as benzoate has been extensively studied in Rhodopseudomonas palustris and other bacteria. In R. palustris, the chemistry underpinning the conversion of benzoate to acetyl-CoA is well understood, however, gaps of knowledge regarding the regulation of the bad (benzoic acid degradation) genes encoding the enzymes of the pathway remain. Here we report the function of the BadL protein, the missing link in our understanding of R. palustris bad gene expression. In this bacterium, BadL function was required for benzoate degradation under photosynthetic conditions (i.e., light plus anoxia). On the basis of results of phenotypic and bioinformatics analyses, qRT-PCR, mass spectrometry, electrophoretic mobility assays, and UV-vis spectroscopy data we show that BadL is a bona fide member of the Gcn5-related N-acetyltransferase family of proteins (GNATs, PF00583) that acetylates aminobenzoates to yield acetamidobenzoates. The latter relieve repression of the badDEFGAB operon by binding to BadM, triggering the synthesis of enzymes that activate and dearomatize the benzene ring. We uncovered an unexpected connection between acetamidobenzoates and the expression of genes encoding the photosynthetic reaction center light harvesting complexes and provide evidence that acetamidobenzoates positively affect the expression of genes encoding reaction center proteins in this bacterium. The effect of acetamidobenzoates on photosynthesis is new and different than their effect on the catabolism of benzoate. Acetamidobenzoates link benzoate degradation to proton motive force generation. Read more about Acetamidobenzoates control the degradation of benzoate and photosynthesis in Rhodopseudomonas palustris
Unexpected metabolic capabilities for the synthesis of a coenzyme B12 precursor in Salmonella enterica Unexpected metabolic capabilities for the synthesis of a coenzyme B12 precursor in Salmonella enterica Escalante Lab Monday, July 9, 2018 - 1:00pm Room 404D, Biological Sciences Building Type of Event: Student Seminars Read more about Unexpected metabolic capabilities for the synthesis of a coenzyme B12 precursor in Salmonella enterica
Pathogenic Escherichia coli : Beyond intestinal borders and species barriers Pathogenic Escherichia coli : Beyond intestinal borders and species barriers Charles M. Dozois Microbiology and Immunology University of Quebec Wednesday, June 6, 2018 - 12:00pm 404D Biological Sciences Bldg Type of Event: Department Seminars Read more about Pathogenic Escherichia coli : Beyond intestinal borders and species barriers
Kathryn Bellissimo Graduate Student Research Labs (via personnel): Eric V. Stabb Labs: Stabb Read more about Kathryn Bellissimo
Jessica Will Research Professional III / Escalante Lab Manager Research Labs (via personnel): Jorge C. Escalante-Semerena Read more about Jessica Will
Helicobacter pylori nickel storage proteins: recognition and modulation of diverse metabolic targets Zachary Saylor Maier Laboratory Monday, April 23, 2018 - 8:00am 404D, Biological Sciences Building Type of Event: Student Seminars Read more about Helicobacter pylori nickel storage proteins: recognition and modulation of diverse metabolic targets
Exploring the ecology of complex microbial communities through an examination of the cockroach gut microbiome Ottesen Lab Monday, April 23, 2018 - 12:30pm Room 404A, Biological Sciences Building Type of Event: Student Seminars Read more about Exploring the ecology of complex microbial communities through an examination of the cockroach gut microbiome
Modeling the Interaction of Mycoplasma pneumoniae with Glycan Receptors Krause Lab Friday, April 13, 2018 - 2:00pm Room 404A, Biological Sciences Building Type of Event: Student Seminars Read more about Modeling the Interaction of Mycoplasma pneumoniae with Glycan Receptors