ASSEMBLY OF THE SPORE COAT OF B SUBTILIS

描述（由申请人提供）：细菌孢子是最常见的 在自然界中发现的特殊细胞类型。这些特殊的休眠细胞 抵抗几乎所有形式的环境攻击，但保留 一旦条件成熟， 有利的。这些能力依赖于最外层的保护壳， 围绕着孢子的是一层多层蛋白质盔甲，称为外壳， 孢子结构的完整性和排除所有大分子。尽管 我们知道，相对而言， 关于它是如何建造的以及它如何提供保护的信息很少。在这一提议中， 我们试图确定芽孢杆菌中已知外壳蛋白之间的接触， 枯草芽孢杆菌孢子以及发现新的外壳蛋白和接触 他们在外套里做的。特别是，我们将确定哪些外壳蛋白 与两种关键蛋白质相互作用，称为CotE和SpoIVA， 在服装装配中的作用。这些研究将帮助我们了解 这种高抗性细胞类型及其耐久性的基础。最后， 我们打算定义直接孢子外壳的生物化学相互作用， 组装件.这将提供一个更广泛的理解的分子基础， 复杂的组装事件，一个与细胞生物学普遍相关的问题。的 然而，该项目的兴趣并不局限于基础研究， 来自各种生物体，特别是梭菌的细菌孢子， 主要食物病原体和由B的亲属产生的孢子。枯草芽孢杆菌（B. subtilis）、B. 炭疽菌，可以作为一种高效的生物武器。大部分的力量 这些病原体是由于外套，这允许快速孢子传播， 使得目前的技术很难消除污染。大衣研究 组装可能揭示对抗这些致病因子的新方法。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Bacterial spores are among the most extraordinary cell types found in nature. These specialized dormant cells are resistant to virtually all forms of environmental assault but retain the capacity to metamorphose into a growing cell as soon as conditions are favorable. These abilities depend on the outermost protective shell that surrounds the spore, a multilayered protein armor called the coat, which gives the spore structural integrity and excludes all large molecules. In spite of the amazing capabilities bestowed on spores by the coat, we know relatively little about how it is built and how it provides protection. In this proposal, we seek to identify the contacts between known coat proteins in Bacillus subtilis spores as well as to discover novel coat proteins and the contacts they make within the coat. In particular, we will determine which coat proteins interact with two key proteins, called CotE and SpoIVA, that play important roles in coat assembly. These studies will help us understand the formation of this highly resistant cell type and the basis for its durability. Ultimately, we intend to define the biochemical interactions that direct spore coat assembly. This will provide a broader understanding of the molecular basis of complex assembly events, a question of general relevance to cell biology. The interest of this project is not confined to basic research, however, as bacterial spores from a variety of organisms, particularly clostridia, are major food pathogens and the spores produced by a relative of B. subtilis, B. anthracis, can be used as a highly effective bioweapon. Much of the potency of these pathogens is due to the coat, which permits rapid spore dispersal and makes decontamination very difficult with current technology. Studies of coat assembly may reveal novel approaches to combat these disease-causing agents.