Project description:Investigation of whole genome gene expression level changes in a Nitrosomonas europaea (ATCC 19718) wildtype and pFur::Kan mutant [kanamycin resistance cassette insertion in the promoter region of the fur gene (NE0616)] strains grown in Fe-replete and Fe-limited media. The Nitrosomonas europaea (ATCC 19718) wiltype cells grown in Fe-limited media were compared to cells grown in Fe-replete media to gain a better understanding of the metabolic changes occurring in response to iron stress. The Nitrosomonas europaea (ATCC 19718) pFur::Kan mutant strain grown in Fe-replete & Fe-limited media were compared to wildtype cells grown in Fe=replete & Fe-limited media to gain a better understanding of the role Fur (NE0616) plays in iron homeostasis control.
Project description:Lignin is a universal waste product of the agricultural industry and is currently seen as a potential feedstock for more sustainable manufacturing. While it is the second most abundant biopolymer in the world, most of it is currently burned as it is a very recalcitrant material. Many recent studies, however, have demonstrated the viability of biocatalysis to improve the value of this feedstock and convert it into more useful chemicals, such as polyhydroxybutyrate, and clean fuels like hydrogen and n-butanol. Rhodopseudomonas palustris is a gram-negative bacterium which demonstrates a plethora of desirable metabolic capabilities, including aromatic catabolism useful for lignin degradation. This study uses a multi-omics approach, including the first usage of CRISPRi in R. palustris, to investigate the lignin consumption mechanisms of R. palustris, the essentiality of redox homeostasis to lignin consumption, elucidate a potential lignin catabolic superpathway, and enable more economically viable sustainable lignin valorization processes.
Project description:Investigation of whole genome gene expression level changes in a Nitrosomonas europaea (ATCC 19718) wildtype and pFur::Kan mutant [kanamycin resistance cassette insertion in the promoter region of the fur gene (NE0616)] strains grown in Fe-replete and Fe-limited media. The Nitrosomonas europaea (ATCC 19718) wiltype cells grown in Fe-limited media were compared to cells grown in Fe-replete media to gain a better understanding of the metabolic changes occurring in response to iron stress. The Nitrosomonas europaea (ATCC 19718) pFur::Kan mutant strain grown in Fe-replete & Fe-limited media were compared to wildtype cells grown in Fe=replete & Fe-limited media to gain a better understanding of the role Fur (NE0616) plays in iron homeostasis control. A 4-plex 3 chip study using total RNA recovered from three separate wild-type cultures each of N. europaea grown in Fe-replete media and Fe-limited media and three seperate cultures each of N. europaea pFur::Kan mutant strain grown in Fe-replete and Fe-limited media. Each chip measures the expression level of 2368 genes from Nitrosomonas europaea (ATCC19718) with 4 X 72,000 60-mer 14 probe pairs per gene, with two-fold technical redundancy.
Project description:It includes analysis of different types of organic carbon
1 Model ligands and complexes
2 Lignin degradation materials
3 Quinones and adducts from biochars
4 Extraction and porewater of permafrost soils across the gradients of palsa-bog-fens
Project description:It includes analysis of different types of organic carbon
1 Model ligands and complexes
2 Lignin degradation materials
3 Quinones and adducts from biochars
4 Extraction and porewater of permafrost soils across the gradients of palsa-bog-fens
Project description:Lignin is an aromatic plant cell wall polymer that facilitates water transport through the vasculature of plants. Although lignin’s ability to reduce bacterial growth been previously reported, it’s hydrophobicity complicates the ability to examine its biological effects on living cells in aqueous growth media. We recently described the ability to solvate lignin in Good’s buffers with neutral pH, a breakthrough that has allowed examination of lignin’s antimicrobial effects against the human pathogen Staphylococcus aureus. We previously showed that lignin damages the S. aureus cell membrane, causes increased cell clustering, and inhibits growth synergistically with tunicamycin, a teichoic acid synthesis inhibitor. In this current study, additional experiments were performed to better understand the physiological and transcriptomic responses of S. aureus to lignin. Intriguingly, lignin restored the susceptibility of genetically resistant S. aureus isolates to β-lactam antibiotics, dysregulated intracellular pH, and impaired normal cell division. Additionally, RNAseq analysis of lignin-treated cultures revealed a number of gene expression changes related to cell envelope, cell wall physiology, fatty acid metabolism and stress resistance. Altogether, these results represent the first comprehensive analysis of lignin’s antibacterial activity against S. aureus that provide clarity in deciphering the mechanisms of lignin’s antibacterial activity, while supporting the notion that lignin has potential to be repurposed for biomedical applications.