Mechanism of bacterial transenvelope protein and lipid transport (P02)

• Subject Area: Biophysics
• Term: since 2022
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 450648163

In project P02, we will use in situ pulsed electron spin resonance (ESR) spectroscopy combined with other biophysical approaches to elucidate the structural and dynamical basis for outer membrane biogenesis in Gram-negative bacteria. The substrate-dependent conformational rearrangements of the major periplasmic chaperon SurA and its interaction with the β-barrel assembly machinery (BAM) complex will be investigated, as well as the conformational dynamics/heterogeneity of the lipopolysaccharide (LPS) translocon LptDE structure in native membrane environment and in the presence of LPS or the periplasmic LPS-binding protein LptA. In the same way, the binding and inhibition mode for the peptidomimetic antibiotic thanatin on LptDE will be examined before we ultimately develop new ESR approaches to study heterooligomeric OMP complexes in native membranes.

• DFG Programme: Collaborative Research Centres
• Subproject of: SFB 1507: Protein Assemblies and Machineries in Cell Membranes
• Applicant Institution: Goethe-Universität Frankfurt am Main
• Project Head: Benesh Joseph, Ph.D.