University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

A Quantitative Characterization of the Chemotactic Behavior of Tethered Bacillus Subtilis Cells

Saulmon, Michael Monroe

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Description

Title
A Quantitative Characterization of the Chemotactic Behavior of Tethered Bacillus Subtilis Cells
Author(s)
Saulmon, Michael Monroe
Issue Date
2002
Doctoral Committee Chair(s)
Ordal, George W.
Department of Study
Biochemistry
Discipline
Biochemistry
Degree Granting Institution
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Degree Name
Ph.D.
Degree Level
Dissertation
Keyword(s)
Biology, Microbiology
Language
eng
Abstract
Studying the quantitative behavior of tethered B. subtilis cells led to the discovery of new functional features of several chemotaxis proteins. Results are presented that demonstrate that the functional roles of CheW and CheV are different, and that the response regulator domain of CheV plays an important role in adaptation to the addition of stimulus. Deleting the methylesterase CheB from the system had a profound effect on chemotaxis in the presence of a stimulus, as well as an effect on the duration of rotational events in the absence of stimulus. One of the most interesting discoveries was the antagonistic roles of CheC and CheD in biasing the probability of smooth swimming. CheC was identified as a regulator of the energy barrier associated with flagellar switching, and so is presumed to contact the flagellar switch. Since CheC also interacts with the receptor complex, it may migrate between the switch and receptor complexes during adaptation.
Graduation Semester
2002
Type of Resource
text
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http://hdl.handle.net/2142/84790

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