Genetic Analysis of Methanogenesis by Methanosarcina species

甲烷八叠球菌产甲烷作用的遗传分析

• 批准号: 0824274
• 负责人: William Metcalf
• 金额: $ 16万
• 依托单位: University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2008
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2008-09-01 至 2009-08-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=0824274&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Genetic; Analysis; Methanogenesis; Methanosarcina; species

The long-term goal of the proposed research is to understand fully the physiology, metabolism and evolutionary adaptation of Methanosarcina species. The primary emphasis of this proposal is the identification and characterization of genes that directly and indirectly affect the use of one-carbon compounds as substrate for growth and methane production. The research will (1) examine how genes are regulated by methanol, (2) examine which genes are regulated by methanol, and (3) develop preliminary data to support the existence of a novel mechanism to regulate production of proteins in Methanosarcina. The proposed experiments will primarily utilize recently developed methods for genetic analysis of Methanosarcina; however, physiological, biochemical and molecular approaches will complement the genetic approach. The intellectual merit of the proposed research is based on the central role of methanogenic microorganisms in a number of human-related problems including the production of alternative fuels from biological materials, agriculture, waste treatment, and global warming. The proposed studies are expected to reveal novel aspects of the methylotrophic pathway by lending insight into the integration of methanogenesis into the global metabolism of the organism. Moreover, a clearer understanding of archaeal transcriptional and translational control should result from examination of the highly regulated methylotrophic genes. The broader impacts of the proposed research include the training of future scientists and academics. Two students will be directly supported by the requested funds. This study is likely to produce new genetic tools and methods that will be useful, and freely available, to the wider microbial research community. Finally, students from other universities may be trained in the methods developed during this research. Facilities, resources and advice will also be provided to local elementary and secondary school teachers who wish to expose their students to the excitement of the microbial world.

这项研究的长期目标是全面了解甲烷八叠球菌属物种的生理、代谢和进化适应。该提案的主要重点是鉴定和表征直接和间接影响使用一碳化合物作为生长和甲烷生产底物的基因。该研究将（1）研究基因如何受到甲醇的调控，（2）研究哪些基因受到甲醇的调控，（3）开发初步数据，以支持存在一种新的机制来调节甲烷八叠球菌中蛋白质的产生。拟议的实验将主要利用最近开发的甲烷八叠球菌的遗传分析方法;然而，生理，生化和分子方法将补充遗传方法。拟议研究的智力价值是基于产甲烷微生物在许多与人类有关的问题中的核心作用，包括从生物材料生产替代燃料，农业，废物处理和全球变暖。拟议的研究，预计将揭示新的方面的甲基营养途径的贷款洞察甲烷合成到全球代谢的有机体。此外，一个更清楚的了解古细菌的转录和翻译控制应导致高度调节的甲基营养基因的检查。拟议研究的更广泛影响包括培训未来的科学家和学者。两名学生将直接获得所需资金的支持。这项研究可能会产生新的遗传工具和方法，这些工具和方法对更广泛的微生物研究界有用，并且可以免费获得。最后，来自其他大学的学生可以接受培训，学习本研究期间开发的方法。还将向希望让学生接触微生物世界的当地中小学教师提供设施、资源和建议。