Elucidating the Structure of Geobacter Sulfurreducens Conductive Pili and the Features Conferring Metallic-Like Conductivity
Abstract
This 1-year ~seed~ research effort is part of a Synthetic Biology UFR request . The objective of the proposed research is to further elucidate the structure of the electrically conductive G. sulfurreducens pili (e-pili) and to define the fundamental principles for biological metallic-like conductivity that will guide synthetic biology of enhanced e-pili as well as aid in surveying the microbial world for other similar structures. It is hypothesized that: 1) cryo-electron microscopy will reveal a G. sulfurreducens pilus structure with aromatic amino acids positioned in close enough proximity to provide pi-pi stacking of aromatic orbitals along the length of the pilus; and 2) structural analysis of genetically modified pili will provide insights into strategies for increasing pili conductivity. Wild-type pili as well as pili with genetically altered conductivity levels will be obtained with biochemical methods already optimized in previous ONR-supported studies. Recent advances in cryo-electron microscopy detector efficiency and computational algorithms will make it feasible to produce a high-resolution (4 ~) structure. From this structure it will be possible to describe the features that contribute to the metallic-like conductivity of the pili and to predict strategies for increasing the conductivity.
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Sep 23, 2016
- Source ID
- N000141612526
Entities
People
- Derek R. Lovley
Organizations
- Office of Naval Research
- United States Navy
- University of Massachusetts