Publications by authors named "D Z Rudner"
Article Synopsis
- Endospore-forming bacteria can survive prolonged starvation by entering a dormant state as spores, which can remain inactive for years but can quickly resume growth when nutrients are available.
- Researchers used transposon-sequencing to identify genes involved in spore germination, discovering both known and new germination genes; they provided detailed characterization of 15 genes, focusing on one key protein, GerY.
- Findings suggest that proteins like GerY, GerT, and GerP are crucial for nutrient transit through the spore coat to activate germination, highlighting their independent roles in the germination process.
Article Synopsis
- The study introduces a new platform that enhances the discovery of optical biosensors, enabling faster and more efficient development through genetically encodable fluorogenic amino acids (FgAAs).
- The engineered nanosensors can detect specific proteins and small molecules with significant increases in fluorescence and fast response times, which are beneficial for real-time diagnostics and live-cell imaging.
- This advanced system allows for rapid testing of numerous sensor candidates, improving sensitivity for detecting SARS-CoV-2 antigens and has the potential for broader applications in modifying proteins with unique functionalities.
Peptidoglycan (PG) and most surface glycopolymers and their modifications are built in the cytoplasm on the lipid carrier undecaprenyl phosphate (UndP). These lipid-linked precursors are then flipped across the membrane and polymerized or directly transferred to surface polymers, lipids, or proteins. Despite its essential role in envelope biogenesis, UndP is maintained at low levels in the cytoplasmic membrane.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFStaphylococcus aureus is a Gram-positive pathogen responsible for antibiotic-resistant infections. To identify vulnerabilities in cell envelope biogenesis that may overcome resistance, we enriched for S. aureus transposon mutants with defects in cell surface integrity or cell division by sorting for cells that stain with propidium iodide or have increased light-scattering properties, respectively.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBacterial spores can remain dormant for decades yet rapidly germinate and resume growth in response to nutrients. GerA family receptors that sense and respond to these signals have recently been shown to oligomerize into nutrient-gated ion channels. Ion release initiates exit from dormancy.
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