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TitleDivergence of AMP synthetic and degradative machinery, and functional implications in psychrophiles
NameParry, Bradley R. (author), Shain, Daniel (chair), McIlroy, Patrick (internal member), Yakoby, Nir (internal member), Rutgers University, Camden Graduate School,
Degree Date2009-10
Date Created2009
SubjectBiology,
Psychrophilic bacteria
DescriptionA large group of organisms is well-suited to life at low temperatures (e.g., <20°C, termed psychrophiles) and is therefore able to colonize the majority of earth's biosphere. Interestingly, all observed kingdoms of psychrophiles have been shown to increase concentrations of ATP as temperatures decline; this phenomena has been described as an important compensatory mechanism to deal with decreased thermal energy. In an effort to understand this phenomena, both evolutionarily and metabolically, psychrophilic and mesophilic purine synthesis pathways were examined. Psychrophilic purine synthesis pathways tend to be enriched with de novo AMP synthetic enzymes, while mesophiles tend to be enriched with AMP degradative enzymes. The function of observed psychrophilic pathway structure was tested by engineering the mesophile Escherichia coli to reflect psychrophilic purine synthesis. Mutant E. coli was capable of growing up to 70% faster at low temperatures and became up to 10 fold more cold tolerant relative wild-type. These findings highlight an important evolutionary step in psychrophilic evolution.
NoteM.S.
NoteIncludes bibliographical references (p. 57-58)
Noteby Bradley R. Parry
Genretheses
Persistent URLhttp://hdl.rutgers.edu/1782.2/rucore10005600001.ETD.000051640
Languageeng
CollectionCamden Graduate School Electronic Theses and Dissertations
Organization Name
RightsThe author owns the copyright to this work.