Digital Commons @ Shawnee State University - Celebration of Scholarship: Antibacterial Protein Expression in Myxococcus xanthus
 

Tuesday, 4/5/2022

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University

Shawnee State University

Major

Biomedical Science

Student Type

Undergraduate Student

Presentation Types

Oral Group Presentation (Live)

Keywords:

Myxococcus xanthus, predation, antimicrobial proteins, gel electrophoresis

Abstract

Myxcococcus xanthus is a bacterium that preys on other bacteria when placed in nutrient deprived environments. After the colony comes into contact with prey cells, M. xanthus secretes cytotoxic substances that allow it to consume the biomass of its prey. While the entire genome of M. xanthus has been sequenced, very little is known about the bacterium and its digestive secretions, therefore the aim of this research is to discover antibacterial proteins. M. xanthus is placed on nutrient deprived media along with prey cells (E. coli), while a control sample of M. xanthus is grown on a plate with no prey cells. Samples will be harvested from the predatory and control colonies, and the whole cell protein profiles are prepared by SDS-PAGE. Any variability observed would indicate differential protein expression. Proteins that are expressed in response to prey cells will be isolated and characterized.

Human and Animal Subjects

no

Faculty Mentor Name

Eugene Burns

Faculty Mentor Title

Doctor

Faculty Mentor Department

Natural Sciences

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Antibacterial Protein Expression in Myxococcus xanthus

Myxcococcus xanthus is a bacterium that preys on other bacteria when placed in nutrient deprived environments. After the colony comes into contact with prey cells, M. xanthus secretes cytotoxic substances that allow it to consume the biomass of its prey. While the entire genome of M. xanthus has been sequenced, very little is known about the bacterium and its digestive secretions, therefore the aim of this research is to discover antibacterial proteins. M. xanthus is placed on nutrient deprived media along with prey cells (E. coli), while a control sample of M. xanthus is grown on a plate with no prey cells. Samples will be harvested from the predatory and control colonies, and the whole cell protein profiles are prepared by SDS-PAGE. Any variability observed would indicate differential protein expression. Proteins that are expressed in response to prey cells will be isolated and characterized.