Understanding how bacteria sense and adapt to their environment

为了生存，细菌必须能够感知和适应它们（不断变化的）环境。这包括试图在人类宿主中建立感染的病原体。Rrf 2家族的调节剂广泛存在于细菌中，并控制一些最重要的细胞途径，包括铁代谢，铁硫生物合成以及对氧化和亚硝化应激的反应。许多Rrf 2家族调节剂结合铁硫簇，这是调节剂的关键感觉模块。事实证明，尽管Rrf 2蛋白彼此非常相似，但它们结合的簇的类型以及它们结合的方式因家族蛋白而异。该项目的重点是确定集群类型和协调，并了解控制这些特征的重要因素。还将研究改变簇配位残基对簇类型和功能的影响。在项目期间将提供各种技术方面的培训，包括蛋白质纯化、厌氧蛋白质处理、铁硫簇化学、蛋白质-DNA相互作用、光谱学、质谱学和X射线晶体学。

In order to survive, bacteria must be able to sense and adapt to their (changing) environment. This includes pathogens trying to establish infection in a human host. The Rrf2 family of regulators is widespread amongst bacteria and controls some of the most important cellular pathways, including iron metabolism, iron-sulfur biogenesis and responses to oxidative and nitrosative stresses. Many Rrf2 family regulators bind an iron-sulfur cluster, and this is the key sensory module of the regulator. It turns out that, although Rrf2 proteins are very similar to one another, the type of cluster they bind, and the way that they do it, varies from one family protein to another. This project is focused on determining cluster type and coordination and understanding the important factors that control these characteristics. The consequences of altering cluster coordinating residues on cluster type and functionality will also be investigated. Training will be provided in a wide range of techniques during the project, including protein purification, anaerobic protein handling, iron-sulfur cluster chemistry, protein-DNA interactions, spectroscopy, mass spectrometry and X-ray crystallography.