Analysis of ion channels in bacterial cells

Project Information

Grant agreement ID: FMBI983318

Project closed

Start date 1 July 1998

End date 30 June 2000

Funded under

• Specific research and technological development programme in the field of the training and mobility of researchers, 1994-1998

Total cost No data

EU contribution No data

Coordinated by

UNIVERSITY OF ABERDEEN
United Kingdom

Objective

Research objectives and content
The objective is to develop an understanding of the Kch(potassium channel) found in cells of the enteric bacterium Escherichia coli. Ion channels similar to Kch have major roles in the physiology of all eukaryotic cells, from simple yeasts to man. Over the last few years genes with the capacity to encode channels similar to those found in higher organisms have been identified in bacteria. The kch gene of E. coli encodes a protein that is similar in structure to the eukaryotic potassium channels. The major potassium transport systems of E coli are well described at both the genetic and physiological level and there is well-developed understanding of the regulation of potassium pools in this organism. This is, therefore, one of the best organisms in which to initiate the study of the role of potassium channels.
The channel protein is already under investigation in Professor Booth s laboratory and my work will complement those studies. Mutants will be produced in which the regulatory sites, identified by comparison with similar channels from higher organisms, will be altered. The effects of the mutations on channel activity will be investigated by patch clamp analysis of excised patches derived from bacterial protoplasts and by analysis of cell physiology to create an understanding of the role of the ion channel in the cell.
Training content (objective. benefit and expected impact)
Training in site-directed mutagenesis, analysis of cell physiology, controlled expression of membrane proteins in prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells, and electrophysiological analysis of channel activity will be gained. These advanced techniques will complement my basic training in molecular biology and cell physiology.
Links with industry / industrial relevance (22)
None for this project, but Prof. Booth's laboratory has good links with food and pharmaceutical companies to ensure rapid exploitation of any novel discoveries.

Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)

CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques.

• natural sciences › biological sciences › microbiology › bacteriology
• natural sciences › chemical sciences › inorganic chemistry › alkali metals
• natural sciences › biological sciences › biochemistry › biomolecules › proteins
• medical and health sciences › basic medicine › physiology
• natural sciences › biological sciences › molecular biology

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Programme(s)

• FP4-TMR - Specific research and technological development programme in the field of the training and mobility of researchers, 1994-1998

Topic(s)

• 0302 - Post-doctoral research training grants
• TL02 - Molecular Biology and Biochemistry

Call for proposal

Data not available

Funding Scheme

RGI - Research grants (individual fellowships)

Coordinator

UNIVERSITY OF ABERDEEN

• EU contribution: No data
• Address: Institute of Medical Sciences, Foresthill ; AB25 2ZD ABERDEEN ; United Kingdom
• Total cost: No data