Researcher from the Faculty of Biotechnology received a considerable grant from the National Science Centre (NCN)
Prof. dr hab. Dagmara Jakimowicz from Faculty of Biotechnology has received a grant as a part of National Science Centre’s OPUS competition to carry out a research project titled „Współdziałanie białek wiążących nukleoid i czynników transkrypcyjnych w regulacji ekspresji genów u bakterii produkujących antybiotyki” (“The interplay between nucleoid associated proteins and transcription factors at regulation of gene expression in antibiotic producing bacteria”). The grant amount equals PLN 2 745 000.
All living organisms respond to environmental changes and adapt to them. One method of this fascinating adaptation is to activate or deactivate selected genes.
Prof. Dagmara Jakimowicz explains:
“The control mechanisms of gene expression are very complex and depend on the organization of genetic material and the action of proteins that regulate transcription. Studying these processes is exciting, but it is also of practical importance, for example, for optimization of cultures of microorganisms that produce valuable substances. “
As part of the project, the team led by prof. Jakimowicz will study the mechanisms of gene expression regulation in Streptomyces, which is a bacteria that produces antibiotics, as well as other biologically active compounds, such as cytostatics and immunosuppressants.
The researcher continues:
“Most of these valuable compounds, however, are not produced under optimal conditions of bacterial growth. Their production is tightly regulated through molecular mechanisms which still have not been fully understood. “
The new project is a follow-up for research of organizing Streptomyces’ genetic material done by prof. Jakimowicz, which has been carried out for years.
Prof. Jakimowicz explains further:
“Our research will be aimed at understanding the role of proteins controlling structure of chromosomes (nucleoid binding proteins) and their cooperation with other regulators of gene expression. We will focus specifically on genes responsible for the biosynthesis of biologically active compounds. “
Four researchers from the University of Wrocław and at least two doctoral students will be involved in the research. The project will be carried out in cooperation with a research group from McMaster University in Hamilton, Canada.
Prof. Dagmara Jakimowicz concludes:
“We expect that our comprehensive research will provide the full picture that depicts the link between organization of chromosomes and bacterial gene expression. “
Read here about which UWr projects received financial support as a result of the OPUS and Preludium competitions of the National Science Centre.
Translated by Karolina Szmidla (student of English Studies at the University of Wrocław) as part of the translation practice.
