Student Scholars & Faculty Mentors
Projects funded by our internal grants program. Search the table to find students or faculty mentors that share in your interests, and could help you achieve your goals in research, creative activity, or service.
E.coli's response to stress in the context of binding Iclr to DNA
Name: Witmer,
Advisor: Mullen Davis
Department: CHEM
Award: Student Research Grant
Abstract: Bacteria’s antibiotic resistance has become a growing cause for concern in recent years due to their ability to survive and adapt in harsh environments. Bacteria, such as our model organism, E.coli, must complete the citric acid cycle in order to produce necessary energy for survival. The research conducted will be examining the glyoxylate shunt frequently used to bypass a portion of the citric acid cycle in order to survive, while cutting off it’s reproductive functions. The shunt is regulated by the transcription factor protein known as Iclr, which binds to the DNA in order to activate. It is the goal of the research to determine when the Iclr enables the glyoxylate pathway in conditions with varied percentages of glyoxylate and pyruvate in the environment. The evaluation of the binding patterns due to Iclr interacting with the DNA will be completed using gel electrophoresis in a native medium.