Role of ferritins in Caulobacter crescentus iron metabolism and their regulation by sRNA

• Grant number: 09/02379-1
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master
• Start date: August 01, 2009
• End date: October 31, 2011
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Genetics - Molecular Genetics and Genetics of Microorganisms
• Principal Investigator: Marilis Do Valle Marques
• Grantee: Mirian Molnar Rodrigues
• Host Institution: Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas (ICB). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Iron is an essential micronutrient, and bacteria make use of several strategies for regulating its levels. Among these, they utilize proteins that store iron (ferritins), which liberate the metal when present in low concentration, and control iron availability by regulating the expression of these proteins. In several bacteria, this regulation is mediated by iron containing-Fur, which acts directly or indirectly via a small regulatory RNA (sRNA). This work aims to study two ferritins and their regulatory mechanisms, including the identificationin C. crescentus of a functional equivalent to the small RNA RhyB from E. coli. The ferritin genes and the region containing the sRNA will be deleted, and the mutants phenotypes will be evaluated as to iron metabolism and oxidative stress response. Gene expression assays in different iron homeostasis conditions will be performed by cloning the promoters in front of a reporte lacZ gene. Expression of ferritins will be evaluated in the mutants for sRNA, fur and oxyR, which will allow defining the regulatory network for these genes. Expression of other genes important for iron metabolism will be assayed in the sRNA mutant and the role of each ferritin in iron accumulation will be determined.

Scientific publications

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

DE CASTRO FERREIRA, IVAN GONCALVES; RODRIGUES, MIRIAN MOLNAR; DA SILVA NETO, JOSE FREIRE; MAZZON, RICARDO RUIZ; MARQUES, MARILIS DO VALLE. Role and regulation of ferritin-like proteins in iron homeostasis and oxidative stress survival of Caulobacter crescentus. BIOMETALS, v. 29, n. 5, p. 851-862, OCT 2016. (09/02379-1)

Academic Publications

(References retrieved automatically from State of São Paulo Research Institutions)

RODRIGUES, Mirian Molnar. Study of the role of two ferritins in Caulobacter crescentus iron metabolism and their regulation.. 2012. Master's Dissertation - Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas (ICB/SDI) São Paulo.