Studies on the physiological functions of TolC, an outer membrane channel protein, in Ensifer meliloti

2015 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 25450117
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Applied microbiology
• Research Institution: Ritsumeikan University
• Principal Investigator: Eda Shima 立命館大学, 生命科学部, 助教 (50420005)
• Project Period (FY): 2013-04-01 – 2016-03-31
• Keywords: 根粒菌 / 外膜タンパク質 / トランスポーター

Outline of Final Research Achievements

An Ensifer meliloti strain carrying a null tolC mutation shows pleiotropic phenotypes such as high sensitivity to osmotic/salt stress, decreased motility, and reduced exopolysaccharide production. Transcriptomic profiling analysis revealed that the tolC mutation affects expression of a large number of genes, including those encoding enzymes required for lipopolysaccharide synthesis and those involved in signal transduction of stress responses. By the analysis of pseudo-revertants of the tolC mutant, it was suggested that the disrupted lipid homeostasis in the tolC mutant cell envelope results in subsequent activation of several stress-response signal transduction pathways.

Free Research Field

分子遺伝学