GLOBAL CONTROL OF DIFFERENTIATION IN CAULOBACTER

描述：新月柄杆菌（Caulobacter crescentus）的细胞分裂产生两种 不同的细胞类型：一个能动的游动细胞和一个无柄的柄细胞。只 有柄细胞能够进行DNA复制和细胞分裂。长期 这个项目的目标是了解细胞分裂和细胞 分化在柄杆菌属中受到调节和协调。柄杆菌属 特别适合这些研究，因为它经历了相对 具有不同形态简单发育程序， 人口可以很容易地同步。第一个目标是定义 细胞周期和发育控制细胞分裂起始通过一个 了解控制FtsZ的因素。作为这一目标的一部分，博士。 Brun计划探索FtsZ细胞类型特异性蛋白水解的机制， 确定FtsZ定位的发育和时间控制，以及 鉴定与FtsZ相互作用的蛋白质。第二个目标是 表征调控序列和反式作用因子， 调节ftsQA，并确定ftsQA的转录如何与 DNA复制。最终目标是识别sigma-54依赖 这些基因是将极发育与细胞分裂联系起来所必需的， stpA的功能，这似乎是必要的适当定位 茎杆和支撑物

DESCRIPTION: Cell division in the bacterium Caulobacter crescentus produces two different cell types: a motile swarmer cell and a sessile stalked cell. Only the stalked cell is capable of DNA replication and cell division. The long term goal of this project is to understand how cell division and cell differentiation are regulated and coordinated in Caulobacter. Caulobacter is particularly well suited for these studies because it undergoes a relatively simple developmental program with distnct morphologies, and because cell populations can be synchronized easily. The first objective is to define the cell cycle and developmental controls of cell division initiation through an understanding of the factors that control FtsZ. As part of this objective, Dr. Brun plans to explore the mechanism of cell type-specific proteolysis of FtsZ, determine the developmental and temporal control of FtsZ localization, and identify proteins that interact with FtsZ. The second objective is to characterize the regulatory sequences and trans-acting factors responsible for regulation of ftsQA and determine how the transcription of ftsQA is coupled to DNA replication. The final objective is to identify the sigma-54-dependent genes that are required to link pole development to cell division and to define the function of stpA, which appears to be required for proper localization of the stalk and holdfast.