The bacterial flagellum is a self-assembling, proton-powered rotary nanomachine that drives motility, allowing chemotaxis. It contains a dedicated type III secretion (T3S) apparatus. Homologous T3S systems are used by pathogenic bacteria to effect virulence, underlying many bacterial diseases such as typhoid fever and bacterial dysentery. Using Salmonella enterica as a model system, we will investigate dynamic interactions among flagellar proteins that allow membrane translocation of export substrates through use of molecular biology, genetics and biochemical techniques including optical biosensing.
The specific aims are to complete a kinetic survey of interactions among export apparatus proteins using optical biosensing as the primary tool, to examine higher-than-pairwise interactions that better reflect in vivo dynamics and to further the development of an in vitro T3S assay. Eventual development of an in vitro export assay will be of tremendous significance because it would allow us to examine hypotheses addressing T3SS function currently out of reach. Since the flagellar export apparatus is highly similar to virulence T3S systems, the project will contribute significantly to our understanding of bacterial pathogenesis. AREA program goals of enhancing the research environment and exposing students to meritorious research will be well-served by this project.

Public Health Relevance

Assembly of the bacterial flagellum occurs by a process called Type III Secretion that is common to many bacterial diseases. Quantitative analysis of protein-protein interactions and development of an assay to examine secretion in vitro will enable description in detail of the molecular events of flagellar assembly. Success in this research will allow us to better understand the molecular events that occur in pathogenesis.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS)
Type
Academic Research Enhancement Awards (AREA) (R15)
Project #
2R15GM080701-02
Application #
8180151
Study Section
Prokaryotic Cell and Molecular Biology Study Section (PCMB)
Program Officer
Ainsztein, Alexandra M
Project Start
2007-08-01
Project End
2014-07-31
Budget Start
2011-08-01
Budget End
2014-07-31
Support Year
2
Fiscal Year
2011
Total Cost
$319,240
Indirect Cost
Name
Kennesaw State University
Department
Chemistry
Type
Schools of Arts and Sciences
DUNS #
627758923
City
Kennesaw
State
GA
Country
United States
Zip Code
30144
Schwieterman, Alicia A; Steves, Alyse N; Yee, Vivian et al. (2016) The Caenorhabditis elegans Ephrin EFN-4 Functions Non-cell Autonomously with Heparan Sulfate Proteoglycans to Promote Axon Outgrowth and Branching. Genetics 202:639-60
Dong, Bingyun; Moseley-Alldredge, Melinda; Schwieterman, Alicia A et al. (2016) EFN-4 functions in LAD-2-mediated axon guidance in Caenorhabditis elegans. Development 143:1182-91
Tsang, Jennifer; Hirano, Takanori; Hoover, Timothy R et al. (2015) Helicobacter pylori FlhA Binds the Sensor Kinase and Flagellar Gene Regulatory Protein FlgS with High Affinity. J Bacteriol 197:1886-92
Salerno, John C; Ghosh, Dipak K; Razdan, Raj et al. (2014) Endothelial nitric oxide synthase is regulated by ERK phosphorylation at Ser602. Biosci Rep 34:
Benoit, Stéphane L; McMurry, Jonathan L; Hill, Stephanie A et al. (2012) Helicobacter pylori hydrogenase accessory protein HypA and urease accessory protein UreG compete with each other for UreE recognition. Biochim Biophys Acta 1820:1519-25
McMurry, Jonathan L; Chrestensen, Carol A; Scott, Israel M et al. (2011) Rate, affinity and calcium dependence of nitric oxide synthase isoform binding to the primary physiological regulator calmodulin. FEBS J 278:4943-54
Wilson, Jo Leanna; Scott, Israel M; McMurry, Jonathan L (2010) Optical biosensing: Kinetics of protein A-IGG binding using biolayer interferometry. Biochem Mol Biol Educ 38:400-7
Morris, Daniel P; Roush, Eric D; Thompson, J Will et al. (2010) Kinetic characterization of Salmonella FliK-FlhB interactions demonstrates complexity of the Type III secretion substrate-specificity switch. Biochemistry 49:6386-93
Rust, Melanie; Borchert, Sophie; Niehus, Eike et al. (2009) The Helicobacter pylori anti-sigma factor FlgM is predominantly cytoplasmic and cooperates with the flagellar basal body protein FlhA. J Bacteriol 191:4824-34
Konishi, Manabu; Kanbe, Masaomi; McMurry, Jonathan L et al. (2009) Flagellar formation in C-ring-defective mutants by overproduction of FliI, the ATPase specific for flagellar type III secretion. J Bacteriol 191:6186-91