Defining the Mechanistic Strategies of Defulfonation in the Alkanesulfonate Sulfonate Monooxygenase System

硫是所有生命的基本元素。细菌通过多种代谢途径在硫循环中发挥关键作用。当环境中的硫受到限制时，细菌表达特定的蛋白质以保留细胞内的硫。链烷磺酸单加氧酶系统在硫限制条件下为细菌提供了替代硫源。 这些研究将阐明链烷磺酸单加氧酶系统在向细菌提供硫中的重要作用。该项目的主要目标是充分建立链烷磺酸单加氧酶系统所使用的机制，以更好地了解其在硫获取和整个硫循环中的生理作用。该项目的教育部分旨在鼓励科学界代表性不足的群体的学生参加奥本大学的研究。PI正在与科学和数学学院（COSAM）的少数民族项目协调员合作，参加计划主修科学，数学或专业预科课程的少数民族新生的夏桥计划。一个关于研究在本科教育中的重要性的互动演讲将被呈现，然后是一个动手实验室实验，以激发本科研究的兴趣。该赠款将提供一个夏季研究奖学金，以少数民族学生在COSAM为每个资助年度。

Sulfur is an essential element for all life. Bacteria play a key role in the sulfur cycle through diverse metabolic pathways. When sulfur is limited in the environment, bacteria express specific proteins to retain intracellular sulfur. The alkanesulfonate monooxygenase system provides bacteria access to an alternative sulfur source under sulfur limiting conditions. These studies will elucidate the essential role of the alkanesulfonate monooxygenase system in supplying sulfur to bacteria. The broad objective of this project is to fully establish the mechanism used by the alkanesulfonate monooxygenase system to better understand its physiological role in sulfur acquisition and the overall sulfur cycle. An educational component of this project seeks to encourage students from underrepresented groups in the sciences to participate in research at Auburn University. The PI is collaborating with the Minority Programs Coordinator in the College of Science and Mathematics (COSAM) to participate in the Summer Bridge Program for incoming minority freshmen planning to major in sciences, mathematics, or pre-professional programs. An interactive talk on the importance of research in an undergraduate education will be presented followed by a hands-on laboratory experiment to stimulate interest in undergraduate research. The grant will provide a summer research fellowship to a minority student in COSAM for each funding year.