Biogenesis of outermembrane proteins in Gram-negative bacteria

每个革兰氏阴性细菌周围的双层膜保护细菌免受环境的影响，也是许多其他基本功能的场所，如营养获取、细胞信号、黏附、运动、毒力或细菌繁殖。这些膜中的蛋白质是至关重要的，因为它们完成的功能是细胞生存和细菌致病所必需的。虽然内膜蛋白的生物发生已经被研究了几十年，并在文献中得到了很好的描述，但完整的膜蛋白在细菌外膜内掺入和生物发生的机制仍然不清楚。这些机制是至关重要的，因为它们被病原菌用来覆盖自己的细胞表面蛋白，促进毒力，因此被认为是开发抗细菌病原体的新疗法的有希望的药物靶点。Calmettes实验室的研究将旨在研究一种有助于外膜蛋白生物发生的新型插入酶复合体的详细作用和功能。利用跨学科的方法，我们的研究计划旨在提供外膜生物发生的更全面的图景，并为科学界提供开发创新抗菌疗法的额外工具。我们的实验室还将投资于高级微生物学、生物化学和生物物理学方面的高素质人才的培训，巩固加拿大的高技能劳动力，为学术界和生物科学和工程部门的私人职业生涯服务。

The double membrane surrounding each Gram-negative bacteria protects the bacteria from its environment, and is the site of many other essential functions such as nutriment acquisition, cell-signaling, adhesion, motility, virulence, or bacterial reproduction. The proteins in these membranes are of critical importance as the functions they accomplish are required for cell survival and bacterial pathogenesis. While the biogenesis of inner-membrane proteins has been studied over decades and is well described in the literature, the mechanisms underlying the incorporation and biogenesis of integral membrane proteins within the bacterial outer-membrane remain elusive. These mechanisms are of critical importance as they are used by pathogenic bacteria to cover themselves with cell surface proteins promoting virulence, and thus are considered promising drug targets for the development of novel therapeutics against bacterial pathogens.Research at the Calmettes lab will aim at examining the detailed roles and functions of a novel insertase complex contributing to the biogenesis of outer-membrane proteins. Using transdisciplinary approaches our research program is designed to deliver a more comprehensive picture of the outer-membrane biogenesis and provide the scientific community with additional tools for the development of innovative antibacterial therapies. Our laboratory will also invest in the training of highly qualified personnel in advanced microbiology, biochemistry and biophysics, consolidating the Canadian highly-skilled labor force for academia and private careers in bioscience and engineering sectors.