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Signal perception by the global transcription factor FNR - a joint Sheffield-UEA study

Reference	BB/C500360/1
Principal Investigator / Supervisor	Professor Andrew Thomson
Co-Investigators / Co-Supervisors	Dr Myles Cheesman, Professor Nicolas Le Brun
Institution	University of East Anglia
Department	Chemistry
Funding type	Research
Value (£)	251,717
Status	Completed
Type	Research Grant
Start date	15/11/2004
End date	14/04/2008
Duration	41 months

Abstract

FNR proteins are direct O2 sensors that control expression of genes required for a wide-range of physiological processes in both Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria. An O2 sensitive iron-sulphur cluster forms the basis of their ability to respond to changes in O2 availability. Thus, the chemistry of the reaction of FNR with O2 is crucial to the transduction of the signal into altered patterns of gene expression. We have also shown that FNR can be inactivated by other oxidants namely H2O2 and NO. Therefore, the ultimate aim is to understand the molecular mechanism of signal perception by FNR proteins. Specifically we will take a multi-disciplinary approach to: (1) Investigate the fate of the [2Fe-2S]2plus form of the FNR protein; (2) Investigate the reversibility of the FNR switch; (3) Investigate the dimer-monomer transition; (4) Study the molecular basis of the variation in sensitivity of FNR to O2, H2O2 and NO; (5) Investigate conformational changes upon FNR inactivation by EPR spin labelling; and (6) Study the effect of DNA-binding on the reactions of FNR with O2, H2O2 and NO. Thus, we will enhance our understanding of how bacteria sense changes in oxygen availability, by providing a detailed description of the FNR switch, and will reveal new insights into how iron-sulphur clusters act as sensors of environmental change. (Joint with BB/C500836/1).

Summary

unavailable

Committee	Closed Committee - Plant & Microbial Sciences (PMS)
Research Topics	Microbiology, Structural Biology
Research Priority	X – Research Priority information not available
Research Initiative	X - not in an Initiative
Funding Scheme	X – not Funded via a specific Funding Scheme

Associated awards:

BB/C500836/1 Signal perception by the global transcription factor FNR - a joint Sheffield-UEA study

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