Identifying Chemotaxis Protein‐Protein Interactions in the Symbiotic Aquatic Bacterium Epulopiscium Sp. B

Abstract

The purpose of this project is to identify specific protein‐protein interactions that occur during chemotaxis in the symbiotic aquatic bacterium Epulopiscium. Chemotaxis is the process by which cells respond to changes in their environment by triggering movement. This is comparable to how white blood cells migrate toward sites of infection. Several protein‐protein interactions in Epulopiscium have been hypothesized based on protein sequence homology with chemotaxis proteins from other bacteria, though these interactions have never been experimentally confirmed. This project will test specific Epulopiscium chemotaxis protein‐protein interactions through a two part strategy (yeast‐2‐hybrid and GST pull‐down assay) to confirm or refute hypothesized interactions and potentially identify Epulo proteins of unknown function. PCR was performed on genomic DNA from Epulo and candidate regions of CheA and CheW orthologs were cloned to explore possible protein‐protein interactions. Expected results will shed light on chemotaxis within this organism and further the “interactome” map of Epulo which may help elucidate the symbiotic mechanism. This project was funded by a generous gift of the Freedmans to Hartwick College.