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Model system mimicking the cell envelope of archaea

Projektleitung Schuster Bernhard
Orgeinheit Institute of Synthetic Bioarchitectures
Laufzeit 01.10.2016 bis- 30.09.2021
Research project (§ 26 & § 27)
Programm Einzelprojekte
Geldgeber Austrian Science Fund (FWF)
Kompetenzfelder 
  • Nanowissenschaften und -technologie

Abstract

Archaea are one of the oldest life-forms existing on Earth. These unicellular organisms are often adapted to extreme habitats. Since the cell envelope of many archaea consists only of a very thin layer of fat (lipid membrane), into which an outermost crystalline protein layer is anchored, the question arises how Nature can accomplish this high resistance to extreme environmental conditions. The present project will study the reassembly of cell envelopes of archaea using previously isolated biological components, i.e., lipids and proteins. It aims to clarify the question how the self-organization of etherlipids and surface layer proteins proceeds in detail and which anchoring strategies are available for the formation of an artificial cell membrane. In addition, the question is addressed which properties of the biomolecules themselves and their assembly into macroscopic cell envelopes cause this amazing resistance to the extreme habitat conditions. Hence, selected archaea strains will be bred in the bioreactor and subsequently the basic building blocks will be isolated from the biomass. In addition, the surface layer proteins can also be genetically produced by host cells. This is a new approach, which has previously not attempted by another research group. By the application of Nature’s construction principle, the cell envelope structure of archaea will be reconstructed layer by layer. Each step will be tracked and analyzed using modern microscopial and surfaces-sensitive techniques. The results of this project will provide valuable insights into the isolation and in particular the self-assembly of cell envelope components. This knowledge can be applied to produce surface coatings with very specific properties. Further application are biomimetic membrane systems for studying the cell walls of archaea. The latter may also serve as model systems into which membrane-active peptides and membrane proteins can be incorporated and systematically investigated.

Publikationen

Mitarbeiter*innen

Bernhard Schuster

ao.Univ.Prof. Dipl.-Ing.Dr.tech. Bernhard Schuster
bernhard.schuster@boku.ac.at
Tel: +43 1 47654-80436

Project Leader

01.10.2016 - 30.09.2021

Kinga Nagy

Kinga Nagy BSc.MSc.

Project Staff

01.03.2017 - 30.09.2019

Kevin Pfeifer

Kevin Pfeifer M.Sc.

Project Staff

15.05.2017 - 30.09.2019

BOKU Partner

Institute of Synthetic Bioarchitectures

Rolle coordinator

Externe Partner

University of Vienna

partner