Functions and Interactions of Essential PcsB in Pneumococcus Cell Wall Biosynthesis

PCSB蛋白是一种保守的、关键的和必需的蛋白质，具有毛霉素样水解酶的特征，存在于革兰氏阳性菌肺炎链球菌(肺炎球菌)中。该项目的长期目标是确定PCSB蛋白在肌动蛋白生物合成和细胞形状确定中的功能和相互作用。正在实现以下两个目标。首先，正在用免疫荧光方法确定PCSB蛋白在野生型和突变型细菌中的定位，并正在鉴定可能对PCSB功能有深入了解的PCSB突变体的表型(S)。其次，正在确定PCSB的生化功能(S)及其与其他蛋白质的相互作用，其中一些蛋白质可能调节其活性和与细胞表面的结合。该项目将应用和改进用于肺炎链球菌的遗传方法，并为革兰氏阳性细菌中肽聚糖的生物合成和结构的基本过程提供新的信息和见解。肺炎球菌和其他种类的链球菌。此外，它还将提供有关球形细菌中毛霉素素生物合成和细胞形状确定之间联系的重要新信息。该项目将有助于培养本科生和研究生。

The PcsB protein is a conserved, critical and essential protein with murein hydrolyase like features that is present in the gram positive bacterium Streptococcus pneumoniae (pneumococcus). The long term goal of this project is to determine the functions and interactions of the PcsB protein in murein biosynthesis and cell shape determination. The following two aims are being addressed. First, the localization of the PcsB protein is being determined in wild-type and mutant bacteria by immunofluorescent approaches and phenotypes of pcsB mutants that may give insights into PcsB function(s) are being characterized. Second, the biochemical function(s) of PcsB and its interactions with other proteins, some of which may regulate its activity and binding to the cell surface, are being determined. This project will apply and refine genetic methods for use in S. pneumoniae, and provide new information and insights into the fundamental processes of peptidoglycan biosynthesis and architecture in gram positive bacteria. pneumococcus and other species of streptococcus. In addition, it will provide important new information about the links between murein biosynthesis and cell shape determination in spherically shaped bacteria. The project will contribute to the training of undergraduate and graduate students.