Type IV Pilus in Myxococcus Xanthus EPS Regulation and Social Motility

粘球菌 Xanthus 中的 IV 型菌毛 EPS 调节和社会运动

• 批准号: 1239889
• 负责人: Zhaomin Yang
• 金额: $ 10万
• 依托单位: Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2013
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2013-06-01 至 2016-05-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=1239889&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Type; IV; Pilus; Myxococcus; Xanthus

Intellectual Merit:The retractable type IV pilus (T4P) in Gram-negative bacteria is the strongest biological motor currently known. It uses ATP as the power source to perform mechanical work through energy transformation by biological means. A dozen T4P or Pil proteins are specifically required for this motor to function. This project uses Myxococcus xanthus T4P as the experimental system to explore how Pil proteins interact with one another to make this powerful motor function. The genetic interactions among pil genes will be investigated using an innovative assay based on new discoveries that T4P regulates additional cellular functions. In addition, binary interactions among T4P proteins and their conserved domains will be investigated systematically by the yeast two-hybrid system. The successful completion of this project will provide an overview of T4P protein interactions and insights into the T4P motor and its mechanisms of energy transformation.Broader Impact:The conceptual framework for the project crosses the boundaries of biology, physics, and engineering. Funding for this project will thus create excellent training opportunities for students in interdisciplinary research. The PI takes an active role in multiple undergraduate and graduate programs at Virginia Tech (VT). Many of these programs emphasize interdisciplinary training; these include an NSF-IGERT program, the Interdepartmental Microbiology Graduate Program (IMGP), and Scieneering. Other programs aim to broaden and create opportunities for the underrepresented in science and the disadvantaged in society; they include the Initiative for Maximizing Student Diversity, the Multicultural Academic Opportunities Program, the VT Post Baccalaureate Research and Education Program, and various summer programs for undergraduates. A few of the programs receive funding from agencies including NSF while others are initiated by the faculty and supported by various institutions at VT. In addition, the outcome of this project may prove instrumental for more efficient energy transformation and utilization which present some of the most challenging environmental issues on a global scale.

智力优势：革兰氏阴性菌中可伸缩的IV型菌毛（T4 P）是目前已知的最强的生物马达。它以ATP为动力源，通过生物手段进行能量转换，完成机械功。一打T4 P或Pil蛋白是该马达发挥功能所必需的。本项目以黄色粘球菌T4 P为实验系统，探索Pil蛋白如何相互作用以实现这种强大的运动功能。将使用基于T4 P调节其他细胞功能的新发现的创新测定来研究T4 P基因之间的遗传相互作用。此外，T4 P蛋白及其保守结构域之间的二元相互作用将通过酵母双杂交系统进行系统研究。该项目的成功完成将提供T4 P蛋白相互作用的概述和T4 P马达及其能量转化机制的见解。更广泛的影响：该项目的概念框架跨越了生物学，物理学和工程学的界限。因此，对该项目的资助将为跨学科研究的学生创造良好的培训机会。PI在弗吉尼亚理工大学（VT）的多个本科和研究生课程中发挥积极作用。许多这些计划强调跨学科的培训，其中包括NSF-IGERT计划，跨部门微生物学研究生计划（IMGP）和Scieneering。其他方案旨在扩大和创造机会，在科学和弱势群体的代表性不足的社会;他们包括最大限度地提高学生多样性的倡议，多元文化的学术机会方案，VT后学士学位研究和教育计划，以及各种暑期课程的本科生。一些项目获得包括NSF在内的机构的资助，而其他项目则由教师发起，并得到VT各机构的支持。此外，这一项目的成果可能有助于更有效的能源转换和利用，这是全球范围内一些最具挑战性的环境问题。