The proposal focuses on the investigation of the molecular basis of Myxococcus xanthus A-motility, using genetic and fluorescence microscopy techniques

单细胞的协调运动是土壤细菌黄粘球菌生命周期内社会行为模式的先决条件。在固体表面上的滑行运动是由社会性s型运动和冒险性a型运动介导的。a -运动可能是由分布在细胞体上的蛋白质复合物提供动力的。作为a -动力复合物的一个组成部分，分子马达可能对细胞结构（可能是细胞骨架）施加力，以推动细胞前进。本课题旨在进一步了解a -运动性的分子机制。实验的重点是鉴定和表征与黄豆草运动有关的toll - pal / tonb系统的同源物。突变分析和荧光显微镜，以确定蛋白质在各种条件下的细胞内分布，将用于解决他们的功能。此外，将研究细胞骨架作为分子马达连接的潜在结构的作用。为此目的，荧光显微镜实验将集中于细胞骨架元素的动力学和旋转。

The coordinated movement of single cells is a prerequisite for social behavior patterns within the life cycle of the soil bacterium Myxococcus xanthus. Gliding movement on solid surfaces is mediated by social S-motility and adventurous A-motility. A-motility is likely powered by protein complexes that are distributed along the cell body. As a component of the A-motility complex, a molecular motor might exert force to a cellular structure, possibly the cytoskeleton, to push the cell forward. The proposed research project aims to gain further insight on the molecular mechanism of A-motility. Experiments focus on the identification and characterization of homologues to the Tol-Pal/TonB-systems that are involved in M. xanthus A motility. Mutational analysis as well as fluorescence microscopy, to determine the intracellular distribution of the proteins under various conditions, will be used to address their function. Moreover, the role of the cytoskeleton as a potential structure for attachment of a molecular motor will be investigated. For that purpose, fluorescence microscopy experiments will concentrate on the dynamics and rotation of cytoskeletal elements.