Coenzyme B12-Dependent 1,2-Propanediol Degradation by Salmonella

知识点：细菌微区室是简单的细胞器，用于通过隔离有毒或挥发性途径中间体来优化代谢过程。它们由包裹代谢酶的蛋白质外壳组成。该研究将侧重于了解细菌微区室的结构和组装原理，以及微囊化酶提供所需辅因子的机制。有毒途径中间体的产生是细菌生产某些绿色化学品的一个问题。微区室是解决这个问题的自然系统。因此，了解它们的分子原理可能会导致基因工程的设计师微区室，以改善生产的绿色化学品。研究的第二个重点是阐明激活维生素B12到辅酶B12所需的蛋白质的生化特性。 这个过程是辅酶B12依赖性酶的活性所必需的，辅酶B12依赖性酶在自然界中广泛存在，并在环境和生物技术中发挥重要作用。因此，更好地了解维生素B12的激活可能会导致更好的方法，用于生产绿色化学品和生物修复的污染habites.broader影响：两名研究生，一名博士后研究员，和两名本科生将进行研究的指导下，主要研究员。这将为学生提供细菌代谢和遗传学领域的广泛培训。预计这一领域将变得越来越重要，因为在未来几年中，工程微生物用于从可再生资源中生产化学品和生物燃料的需求将不断增长。PI还将与爱荷华州州立大学卡弗基金会合作，每年为两名少数民族本科生提供暑期研究机会。

Intellectual Merit:Bacterial microcompartments are simple organelles used to optimize metabolic processes by sequestering toxic or volatile pathway intermediates. They consist of a protein shell that encases metabolic enzymes. The research will focus on understanding the structural and assembly principles of bacterial microcompartments as well as the mechanism by which the encapsulated enzymes are supplied with needed cofactors. The production of toxic pathway intermediates is a problem in the production of certain green chemicals by bacteria. Microcompartments are a natural system that solves this problem. Hence, understanding their molecular principles could lead to the genetic engineering of designer microcompartments for the improved production of green chemicals. A second focus of the research is to elucidate the biochemical properties of proteins required to activate vitamin B12 to coenzyme B12. This process is required for the activity of coenzyme B12-dependent enzymes which are widespread in nature and play important roles in the environment and in biotechnology. Thus, an improved understanding of vitamin B12 activation could result in better methods for the production of green chemicals and for bioremediation of contaminated habitats.Broader impacts:Two graduate students, one post-doctoral fellow, and two undergraduates will carry out the research under guidance for the principle investigator. This will provide students with extensive training in the area of bacterial metabolism and genetics. This field is expected to be increasingly important as the need to engineer microbes for the production of chemicals and biofuels from renewable resources grows in the coming years. The PI will also work with the Iowa State University Carver Foundation to provide summer research opportunities to two minority undergraduate students per year.