RUI: Architecture and evolution of a conserved bacterial regulatory pathway that influences host and microbe carbon metabolism

所有的植物和动物都与微生物群落密切合作，这种关系通常非常有益，但在某些情况下可能导致疾病。微生物群落向其宿主提供营养物质以及可以作为分子信号的小有机分子。这些由微生物产生的分子对宿主动物的正常发育和生理功能非常重要。由微生物产生的一类营养物质（和信号）是短链脂肪酸，其中乙酸酯是一个熟悉的例子。该项目涉及阿默斯特学院（Purdy组）和北方密歇根大学（Sharp组）实验室之间的合作，重点是了解两种细菌（弧菌和假单胞菌）中调节乙酸水平的信号机制，从而调节其与微生物群落和动物宿主的相互作用。该项目将为本科生（包括在科学中代表性不足的少数民族）提供真实的研究经验，无论是在基于课程的设置，以及在调查人员的实验室。妇女和代表人数不足的少数民族学生将被招募，并得到同伴辅导网络的支持，并通过包括小学和中学学生在内的公众参与以及女童军、女孩公司、该项目将建立由弧菌和假单胞菌中的CrbS启动的信号通路如何感知并传递信息以调节乙酰辅酶A合成酶，从而控制短链脂肪酸的水平。将研究CrbS依赖性调节子的作用，以了解其在碳代谢和细菌中其他不同细胞功能中的演变和作用。

All plants and animals exist in close partnership with communities of microbes, a relationship that is typically highly beneficial but can, in certain circumstances, lead to disease. Microbial communities provide to their hosts nutrients as well as small organic molecules that can function as molecular signals. These molecules generated by microbes are important to the normal development and physiological function of the host animal. One class of such nutrients (and signals) produced by microbes is the short-chain fatty acids, of which acetate is a familiar example. This project involves collaboration between laboratories at Amherst College (Purdy group) and Northern Michigan University (Sharp group) focused on understanding the signaling mechanisms in two bacteria (Vibrio and Pseudomonas) that regulate the levels of acetate and thereby its function in mediating interactions with microbial communities and animal hosts. This project will provide authentic research experiences for undergraduate students (including minorities under-represented in science) in both a course-based setting as well as in the investigators' laboratories. Women and under-represented minority students will be recruited and supported by peer-mentoring networks, and by outreach through public engagement including elementary and middle-school students, and groups such as Girl Scouts; Girls, Inc.; the Black Student Union High School Program, and the Marquette Children's Museum.The project will establish how the signaling pathway initiated by CrbS in Vibrio and Pseudomonas senses and transmits information to The project will establish how the signaling pathway initiated by CrbS in Vibrio and Pseudomonas senses and transmits information to regulate acetyl CoA synthetase and thereby control the levels of short chain fatty acids. The role of the CrbS-dependent regulon will be investigated to understand its evolution and role in carbon metabolism and in other diverse cellular functions in bacteria.