Department
Chemical and Biochemical Engineering
Major
Chemical Engineering
Research Advisor
Westenberg, David
Advisor's Department
Biological Sciences
Funding Source
UMR Opportunities for Undergraduate Research Experiences (OURE) Program
Abstract
Quorum sensing allows bacteria to communicate with each other and coordinate their behavior with their surroundings. This communication uses autoinducers, such as Acyl-homoserine lactones (AHLs), which is produced and secreted by several strains of Bradyrhizobium japonicum. This study characterizes the production of AHL in specific strains of B. japonicum and describes the relationship between AHL production and a supposed AHL synthase gene in the B. japonicum genome. Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) was performed on various bacterium strains to amplify the synthase gene. Extraction of AHLs from B. japonicum culture supernatants were used to analyze AHL production using thin-layer chromatography (TLC). The results indicate that some strains of B. japonicum produce detectable AHLs of different sizes while other strains do not produce as much AHLs. Surprisingly, AHL production does not appear to correspond precisely with the presence of an AHL synthase gene, indicating more than one pathway for AHL synthesis.
Biography
Ashley is a senior attending the University of Missouri-Rolla majoring in chemical engineering. She is the daughter of Russell and Joyce Boudria and is from Jefferson City, Missouri. On campus she is actively involved in Chi Omega, Tau Beta Pi, Omega Chi Epsilon and the American Institute of Chemical Engineers. Ashley plans to pursue a master's degree in chemical engineering after she graduates from UMR in December.
Research Category
Natural Sciences
Presentation Type
Poster Presentation
Document Type
Poster
Location
Havener Center, Carver-Turner Room
Presentation Date
11 April 2007, 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm
Characterization of Autoinducer Production in Bradyrhizobium japonicum
Havener Center, Carver-Turner Room
Quorum sensing allows bacteria to communicate with each other and coordinate their behavior with their surroundings. This communication uses autoinducers, such as Acyl-homoserine lactones (AHLs), which is produced and secreted by several strains of Bradyrhizobium japonicum. This study characterizes the production of AHL in specific strains of B. japonicum and describes the relationship between AHL production and a supposed AHL synthase gene in the B. japonicum genome. Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) was performed on various bacterium strains to amplify the synthase gene. Extraction of AHLs from B. japonicum culture supernatants were used to analyze AHL production using thin-layer chromatography (TLC). The results indicate that some strains of B. japonicum produce detectable AHLs of different sizes while other strains do not produce as much AHLs. Surprisingly, AHL production does not appear to correspond precisely with the presence of an AHL synthase gene, indicating more than one pathway for AHL synthesis.
