Award details

Analysis and exploitation of genes and proteins involved in high frequency lactococcal conjugation

Reference	BBS/E/F/00041704
Principal Investigator / Supervisor	Dr Claire Shearman
Co-Investigators / Co-Supervisors	Professor Michael Gasson
Institution	Quadram Institute Bioscience
Department	Quadram Institute Bioscience Department
Funding type	Research
Value (£)	91,504
Status	Completed
Type	Institute Project
Start date	01/08/2004
End date	31/07/2007
Duration	36 months

Abstract

Lactic acid Bacteria (LAB) are of major economic importance to the food industry. LAB are the predominant microflora of many fermented foods and are also found as commensal bacteria that inhabit the gastro-intestinal tracts of food animals and man. A highly efficient conjugation system in the industrially important species Lactococcus lactis will be further characterised. Conjugal gene transfer is poorly characterised in Gram positive bacteria but is an important process in bacterial evolution and for the safety evaluation of GM technology. It is a valuable genetic tool for genetic analysis and non-recombinant strain construction, especially in food-use microorganisms. This research aims to further characterise and exploit the L. lactis MG1363 conjugation system which involves a chromosomal sex factor with unique properties, including the ability to mobilise the bacterial chromosome. This strain is a genetic prototype that is used widely for academic study and biotechnology applications. Conjugation involves a specialised form of DNA replication in which one strand of DNA is retained in the donor while the second strand is transferred to the recipient. We will investigate the roles of genes and proteins involved in mating pair formation and DNA transfer with a focus on proteins that may couple the DNA replication machinery and the mating pair complex. The binding domain of the CluA protein that maintains cell to cell contact will be defined and the proteins that interact with CluA to facilitate DNA transfer will be investigated. The global expression of the sex factor genes will be analysed, including the use of DNA microarrays, to reveal their regulation during conjugation and cell growth.

Summary

unavailable

Committee	Closed Committee - Plant & Microbial Sciences (PMS)
Research Topics	X – not assigned to a current Research Topic
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

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