Project Details
Projekt
New functions of selenoproteins in Gram-positive, anaerobic bacteria (Neue Funktionen von Selenoproteinen in Gram-positiven, anaeroben Bakterien)
Applicant
Professor Dr. Jan Remmer Andreesen
Subject Area
Biochemistry
Term
from 2000 to 2007
Project identifier
Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 5241160
Selenium is an essential trace element for many Gram-positive, anaerobic bacteria. Besides its known involvement in bacterial enzymes such as formate dehydrogenase, hydrogenase, and selenophosphate synthetase, some of these anaerobic bacteria contain unique and specific selenoproteins in rather high amounts being functionally involved in reductive cleavage reactions of N-C bonds of some amino acids, forming a selenoether as a better leaving group, and in redox reactions. In addition to selenocysteine, S-selanylcysteine can be a labile constituent of selenoproteins. The aim of this study is to unravel further functions of 75-Se-labeled new selenoproteins for a broad variety of different Gram-positive anaerobes including pathogens. Stress parameters as reactive oxygen species (plus NO), osmotic changes, exposures to heavy metals ions, and toxin production seem to be suited to induce selenoproteins. Further identification will be done using biochemical and genetic tools. Conclusions might be obtained for new functions of selenoproteins in these descendant organisms of an ancient anaerobic biological scene.
DFG Programme
Priority Programmes
