The Effect of Deleting the Gene Rru_A2871 on Rhodoquinone Biosynthesis in Rhodospirillum rubrum
Faculty Sponsor
Jennifer Shepherd, Gonzaga University
Research Project Abstract
Many parasitic helminths require the metabolic cofactor rhodoquinone (RQ)for anaerobic respiration. Inhibition of RQ biosynthesis may shut down the anaerobic respiration pathway and provide a new target for anti-helminthic drug design. The bacteria Rhodospirillum rubrum (R. rubrum) was used as a model organism for RQ biosynthesis because it utilizes the same respiration pathway as the helminths when grown under anaerobic conditions. Previous studies have shown ubiquinone (Q) is a required precursor to RQ, and that the gene, rquA, is required for this conversion. Since this process likely requires additional enzymes, further investigation has identified potential gene targets within the R. rubrum genomethat may be involved in the pathway. This project involved creating a knockout mutant with the deletion of the gene Rru_A2871 from the R. rubrum genome through homologous recombination, as well as the quantitative analysis of RQ production in eight similar mutant strains, using LC-MS analysis.
Session Number
PS2
Location
Graves Gym
Abstract Number
PS2-y
The Effect of Deleting the Gene Rru_A2871 on Rhodoquinone Biosynthesis in Rhodospirillum rubrum
Graves Gym
Many parasitic helminths require the metabolic cofactor rhodoquinone (RQ)for anaerobic respiration. Inhibition of RQ biosynthesis may shut down the anaerobic respiration pathway and provide a new target for anti-helminthic drug design. The bacteria Rhodospirillum rubrum (R. rubrum) was used as a model organism for RQ biosynthesis because it utilizes the same respiration pathway as the helminths when grown under anaerobic conditions. Previous studies have shown ubiquinone (Q) is a required precursor to RQ, and that the gene, rquA, is required for this conversion. Since this process likely requires additional enzymes, further investigation has identified potential gene targets within the R. rubrum genomethat may be involved in the pathway. This project involved creating a knockout mutant with the deletion of the gene Rru_A2871 from the R. rubrum genome through homologous recombination, as well as the quantitative analysis of RQ production in eight similar mutant strains, using LC-MS analysis.
