Struktur und Interaktion von Proteinen aus dem Reggie-like Operon von Prokaryoten / Structure and Interaction of Proteins of the Reggie-like Operon in Prokaryotes

• Applicant: Professor Dr. Heiko Möller
• Subject Area: Structural Biology
• Term: from 2008 to 2012
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 74892771

Structural studies on eukaryotic reggie proteins have so far been extremely difficult due to the adverse expression and in vitro behavior of these membrane-associated proteins as well as constructs thereof. The present project focuses therefore on prokaryotic proteins encoded in the reggie-like operons which will be characterized by NMR spectroscopy. Reggie-like proteins (RLPs) are found in many bacteria. Most interestingly, these RLPs are almost always accompanied by another transmembrane protein belonging to the NfeD family. In some cases further reggie-associated proteins (RAPs) are encoded within the reggie-like operon and thus co-expressed and co-regulated with the RLPs. In B. subtilis, the reggie-like operon is regulated by the σW-factor leading to enhanced expression under conditions of cellular stress, like osmotic shock or presence of cell envelope-compromising antibiotics. It appears that RLPs and their associated partner proteins altogether act in response to these stress conditions. High-resolution structures of prokaryotic RAPs and RLPs as well as characterization of their molecular interactions, which are the major objectives of this proposal, will be key to understanding their function and how this is related to their eukaryotic homologs.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants