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Grand Challenge in Membrane Biology


EMSL Project ID
14398

Abstract

In this grand challenge, we will use a systems approach to understand the network of genes and proteins that govern the structure and function of membranes and their components responsible for photosynthesis and nitrogen fixation in cyanobacteria (blue-green algae). A systems approach integrates all temporal information into a predictive, dynamic model to understand the function of a cell and the cellular membranes. These microorganisms make significant contributions to harvesting solar energy, planetary carbon sequestration, metal acquisition, and hydrogen production in marine and freshwater ecosystems. Cyanobacteria are also model microorganisms for studying the fixation of carbon dioxide through photosynthesis at the biomolecular level. The results of this Grand Challenge will provide the first comprehensive systems level understanding of how environmental conditions influence key carbon fixation processes at the gene-protein-organism level.

Specific tasks associated with this grand challenge will be submitted individually.

Project Details

Project type
Grand Challenge
Start Date
2005-03-31
End Date
2011-04-03
Status
Closed

Team

Principal Investigator

Himadri Pakrasi
Institution
Washington University in St. Louis

Team Members

Nicole Koropatkin
Institution
Donald Danforth Plant Science Center

Bijoy Ghosh
Institution
Washington University in St. Louis

Tina Summerfield
Institution
Purdue University

Rajeev Aurora
Institution
Saint Louis University

Rangesh Kunnavakkam
Institution
Saint Louis University

Louis Sherman
Institution
Purdue University

Teruo Ogawa
Institution
Shanghai Institute of Plant Physiology and Ecology

Jon Jacobs
Institution
Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory

Garry Buchko
Institution
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory

Related Publications

Crystal structure of cce_0566 fromCyanothece 51142, a protein associated with nitrogen fixation in the DUF269 family

Buchko GW, and H Robinson. 2012. "Crystal structure of cce_0566 from Cyanothece 51142, a protein associated with nitrogen fixation in the DUF269 family." FEBS Letters 586(4):350-355. doi:10.1016/j.febslet.2012.01.037

Cyanobacterial NADPH dehydrogenase complexes

Ogawa T, and H Mi. 2007. "Cyanobacterial NADPH dehydrogenase complexes." Photosynthesis Research 93(1-3):69-77. doi:10.1007/s11120-006-9128-y

Unique Thylakoid Membrane Architecture of a Unicellular N2-Fixing Cyanobacterium Revealed by Electron Tomography    

Liberton ML, JR Austin, RH Berg, and HB Pakrasi. 2011. "Unique Thylakoid Membrane Architecture of a Unicellular N2-Fixing Cyanobacterium Revealed by Electron Tomography." Plant Physiology 155(4):1656-1666. doi:10.1104/pp.110.165332

Genetic Transformation and Mutagenesis via Single-Stranded DNA in the Unicellular, Diazotrophic Cyanobacteria of the Genus Cyanothece

Min H, and LA Sherman. 2010. "Genetic Transformation and Mutagenesis Via Single-Stranded DNA in the Unicellular, Diazotrophic Cyanobacteria of the Genus Cyanothece." Applied and Environmental Microbiology 76(22):7641-7645. doi:10.1128/AEM.01456-10.

Properties of Mutants of Synechocystis sp. Strain PCC 6803 Lacking Inorganic Carbon Sequestration Systems

Xu M, G Bernat, AK Singh, H Mi, M Rogner, HB Pakrasi, and T Ogawa. 2008. "Properties of Mutants of Synechocystis sp. Strain PCC 6803 Lacking Inorganic Carbon Sequestration Systems." Plant & Cell Physiology 49(11):1672-1677. doi:10.1093/pcp/pcn139

Low-Oxygen Induction of Normally Cryptic psbA Genes in Cyanobacteria

Summerfield T, J Toepel, and LA Sherman. 2008. "Low-Oxygen Induction of Normally Cryptic psbA Genes in Cyanobacteria." Biochemistry 47(49):12939–12941. doi:10.1021/bi8018916

Differential Transcriptional Analysis of the Cyanobacterium Cyanothece sp. Strain ATCC 51142 during Light-Dark and Continuous-Light Growth

Toepel J, EA Welsh, T Summerfield, HB Pakrasi, and LA Sherman. 2008. "Differential Transcriptional Analysis of the Cyanobacterium Cyanothece sp. Strain ATCC 51142 during Light-Dark and Continuous-Light Growth." Journal of Bacteriology 190(11):3904-3913. doi:10.1128/JB.00206-08

Global transcriptomic analysis of Cyanothece 51142 reveals robust diurnal oscillation of central metabolic processes

Stockel J, EA Welsh, ML Liberton, R Kunnavakkam, R Aurora, and HB Pakrasi. 2008. "Global transcriptomic analysis of Cyanothece 51142 reveals robust diurnal oscillation of central metabolic processes ." Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America 105(16):6156-6161. doi:10.1073/pnas.0711068105

The genome of Cyanothece 51142, a unicellular diazotrophic cyanobacterium important in the marine nitrogen cycle

Welsh EA, ML Liberton, J Stockel, T Loh, TR Elvitigala, C Wang, A Wollam, RS Fulton, SW Clifton, JM Jacobs, R Aurora, BK Ghosh, LA Sherman, RD Smith, RK Wilson, and HB Pakrasi. 2008. "The genome of Cyanothece 51142, a unicellular diazotrophic cyanobacterium important in the marine nitrogen cycle." Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America 105(39):15094-15099. doi:10.1073/pnas.0805418105

High Sensitivity Proteomics Assisted Discovery of a Novel Operon Involved in the Assembly of Photosystem II, a Membrane Protein Complex

Wegener KM, EA Welsh, LE Thornton, NS Keren, JM Jacobs, KK Hixson, ME Monroe, DG Camp, II, RD Smith, and HB Pakrasi. 2008. "High Sensitivity Proteomics Assisted Discovery of a Novel Operon Involved in the Assembly of Photosystem II, a Membrane Protein Complex." Journal of Biological Chemistry 283(41):27829-27837. doi:10.1074/jbc.M803918200

Identification and Localization of the CupB Protein Involved in Constitutive CO2 Uptake in the Cyanobacterium, Synechocystis sp. Strain PCC 6803

Xu M, T Ogawa, HB Pakrasi, and H Mi. 2008. "Identification and Localization of the CupB Protein Involved in Constitutive CO? uptake in the Cyanobacterium, Synechocystis sp. Strain PCC 6803." Plant & Cell Physiology 49(6):994-997. doi:10.1093/pcp/pcn074

Cloning, expression, crystallization and preliminary crystallographic analysis of a pentapeptide-repeat protein (Rfr23) from the bacteriumCyanothece 51142

Buchko GW, H Robinson, S Ni, HB Pakrasi, and MA Kennedy. 2006. "Cloning, expression, crystallization and preliminary crystallographic analysis of a pentapeptide-repeat protein (Rfr23) from bacterium Cyanothece 511421." Acta Crystallographica. Section F 62(12):1251-1254. doi:10.1107/S174430910604663X