Protein Homeostasis, Stress and Biofilm Architecture

The proper synthesis and maintenance of proteins are crucial for cellular function and survival.

This is achieved through an intricate molecular network known as the protein homeostasis (proteostasis) network, which ensures that proteins are correctly folded, present at appropriate concentrations, and localized within the cell. The fundamental importance of proteostasis in cellular processes cannot be overstated.

In light of this, the proposed studies aim to provide a deeper understanding of the complex mechanisms used by bacterial cells to respond to challenging environmental conditions, and how these processes impact the ability of bacterial cells to work together to form cohesive, three-dimensional multicellular communities.

By exploring the impact of these systems potential novel and potent targets for antimicrobial drugs and/or antibiotic adjuvants may be identified.

The specific aims are: (I) to investigate structure-function properties of stress sensing and molecular recognition between an adaptor protein (YjbH) and a global stress transcription factor (Spx) and its role in protease client recognition. (II) to study the proteostasis network with a focus on the major chaperones DnaK and trigger factor. (III) to unravel how and why proteotoxic stress influence biofilm formation and architecture. (IV) to provide an integrative approach that allow correlation between spatial locations at a macroscopic scale to activities at the level of individual cells in biofilms.