Research project Protein Degradation in the Bacterial Cell Envelope
Proteases play critical roles in clearing mistargeted and misfolded proteins as well as in regulatory processes. However, our knowledge of their role in maintaining protein homeostasis in the bacterial cell envelope remains scant.
Therefore, the many (putative) cell envelope proteases of Escherichia coli will be characterized by analyzing the regulation of their genes, determining their role in growth and stress relief, and identifying their substrates. Since E. coli has successfully been used before to further our understanding of protein homeostasis in other pro- and eukaryotes, it is envisaged that generated knowledge will be widely applicable. Many recombinant proteins, like antibody fragments and hormones, are produced in the cell envelope of E. coli. However, proteolysis often negatively affects production yields. The generated knowledge of cell envelope proteases will be used to identify the ones responsible and customize E. coli for the production of proteins in its cell envelope. Using a combination of molecular biology, microbiology, bacterial genetics and proteomics two PhD students will jointly work on this project; one on the fundamental aspects and the other on the translational aspects. Aims of the project fit very well with the long standing goals of the laboratory: -i- to provide the first global picture of how homeostasis of a bacterial cell envelope is maintained, and -ii- to create platforms for the efficient production of recombinant proteins in E. coli.
Project members
Project managers
Jan-Willem de Gier
Professor i Biokemi
