Degree Name
MS (Master of Science)
Program
Biology
Date of Award
12-2008
Committee Chair or Co-Chairs
Bert C. Lampson
Committee Members
Dhirena Kumar, Ranjan N. Chakraborty
Abstract
Iron is an essential nutrient for most bacteria because enzymes like nitrate reductase and cytochromes use it as a cofactor. However, in most aerobic, neutral pH environments, iron is essentially insoluble and not easily available for bacteria to use. Many bacteria respond to this problem by releasing small organic compounds called siderophores that bind and effectively solubilize iron so that it can be transported into the cell for growth. The focus of this study was to learn more about the iron acquisition and especially the transport of iron by the soil bacterium Rhodococcus erythropolis. To fulfill this aim, mutant strains of the bacteria were screened for those that overproduce siderophore. Often, a bacterium will over produce siderophore to compensate for a defect in transport. One such mutant, R187-12, was further analyzed by cloning the region of the chromosome containing the defective gene responsible for over production of siderophore into a plasmid vector. The DNA sequence of this region was determined and analyzed for the presence of similar genes encoding transport proteins.
Document Type
Thesis - unrestricted
Recommended Citation
Pratt, Melanie Anne, "Iron Acquisition in Rhodococcus erythropolis Strain IGTS8: Characterization of a Mutant Strain that Over Produces Siderophore." (2008). Electronic Theses and Dissertations. Paper 2013. https://dc.etsu.edu/etd/2013
Copyright
Copyright by the authors.