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

所有植物和动物都与微生物群落密切合作，这种关系通常是非常有益的，但在某些情况下，可能会导致疾病。微生物群落为宿主提供营养物质和可作为分子信号的有机小分子。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。其中一类由微生物产生的营养物质(和信号)是短链脂肪酸，醋酸盐就是我们熟悉的例子。该项目涉及Amherst学院(Purdy组)和北密歇根大学(Sharp组)的实验室之间的合作，重点是了解两种细菌(弧菌和假单胞菌)中调节醋酸盐水平的信号机制，从而了解其在调节与微生物群落和动物宿主相互作用中的功能。该项目将在以课程为基础的环境中以及在研究人员的实验室中为本科生(包括在科学领域代表性不足的少数群体)提供真实的研究经验。妇女和代表不足的少数族裔学生将被同伴指导网络招募和支持，并通过包括中小学生在内的公共参与，以及诸如女童军、女孩公司、黑人学生联合会高中计划和马凯特儿童博物馆等团体的外联活动来支持。该项目将建立弧菌和假单胞菌中CRB启动的信号通路如何感知并将信息传递给该项目，该项目将确定弧菌和假单胞菌中CRB启动的信号通路如何感知并传输信息来调节乙酰辅酶A合成酶，从而控制短链脂肪酸水平。将研究CRBS依赖的调节子的作用，以了解它在碳代谢和细菌其他不同细胞功能中的进化和作用。

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.