30th Annual Student Research Conference
Function and Characterization of the yisR Gene in Bacillus subtilis
Sarah E. Evans* and Sarah M. Connolly
Dr. Joyce Patrick, Faculty Mentor
Bacillus subtilis is a model Gram-positive bacterium used to better understand other Gram-positive organisms. Past research suggests that yisR allows B. Subtilis to continue growing under nutrient-deficient conditions (unpublished data). Therefore, in order to further understand how yisR works and the pathway by which it acts, yisR was knocked out of the genome using PCR. The growth phenotypes of the mutant versus the wild type strain were assayed under nutrient-rich and nutrient-deficient conditions. It was discovered that the mutant strain was not able to maintain growth under nutrient-deficient conditions while the wild type strain was. Both strains grew equally well under nutrient-rich conditions. This suggests that yisR is instrumental in allowing B. subtilis to grow under nutrient-deficient conditions. Currently, research is working toward complementing the mutant strain, as well as determining its sporulation phenotype since B. subtilis sporulates to preserve genetic material in response to starvation.
Keywords: Bacillus subtilis, yisR, microbiology, PCR
Topic(s):Biology
Presentation Type: Poster
Session: 6-
Location: GEO - SUB
Time: