Application accepted for either MSc by Research or PhD.
Gram-negative bacteria have evolved to survive in diverse ecological niches. Some species are pathogenic, while others colonise the mammalian gut and aid food digestion. The major distinguishing feature of Gram-negative organisms compared to their Gram-positive counterparts is the existence of an additional outer membrane (OM), which has an important barrier function for the organism. We have developed fluorescent labelling techniques that enable a specific OM protein (OMP) to be localised and tracked at the single-molecule level as a bacterial cell grows and divides [1]. Using this biotechnology we revealed the unique spatio-temporal dynamics of OMPs; specifically, OMPs undergo very restricted two-dimensional diffusion, OMPs reside in islands containing the biogenesis (BAM) machinery that inserted them, and OMPs segregate to the poles during OM biogenesis [2]. This demonstrates that old and new OMPs partition between the poles and mid-cell regions, respectively, of a dividing Gram-negative cell. As a consequence, bacterial cells with a completely new OM proteome can appear within only two generations. This project will investigate how this (binary) partitioning might coordinate processes required for OM integrity and maintenance, and dictate the assembly of periplasm-spanning molecular machines involved in OM biogenesis and antibiotic efflux. Cutting-edge single-molecule fluorescent labelling and imaging techniques will be used to reveal links between this newly discovered endogenous mechanism for continuous OMP turnover and how a growing Gram-negative cell interacts with and adapts to its environment.
References:
[1] Rassam, P., et al. (2015) Supramolecular assemblies underpin turnover of outer membrane proteins in bacteria. Nature 523: 333-336.
[2] Kleanthous, C., Rassam, P. and Baumann, C.G. (2015) Protein-protein interactions and the spatiotemporal dynamics of bacterial outer membrane proteins. Curr. Opin. Struct. Biol. 35: 109-115.
The Department of Biology at the University of York is committed to recruiting extraordinary future scientists regardless of age, ethnicity, gender, gender identity, disability, sexual orientation or career pathway to date. We understand that commitment and excellence can be shown in many ways and have built our recruitment process to reflect this. We welcome applicants from all backgrounds, particularly those underrepresented in science, who have curiosity, creativity and a drive to learn new skills.
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