Isotopic and proteomic approaches to dehalococcoides physiology

Activity Code: FP7-PEOPLE-IEF-2008
Coordinator:Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research - UFZ

Abstract:

The fellowship will allow Dr. Marco-Urrea a significant expansion of his research experience which currently is focused in the aerobic degradation of halogenated ethenes by white-rot fungi.
Dr. Marco-Urrea has published four referenced papers on this topic and has acquired research experience in the USA, but the next step in his career is clearly the widening of his thematic focus and of his methodological capacities in a European context. Both will be provided by the host. Dr. Marco-Urrea will continue to investigate microbial biodegradation of halogenated compounds. However, he will cultivate and perform biochemical test consistently under anaerobic conditions; he will work with halogenated aromatics rather than with aliphatics; and he will work with bacteria rather than with fungi. He will expand his already wide spectrum of techniques to the quantitative analysis of stable isotopes and to proteomic approaches.
The project will complement the work that is planned in the group of Dr. Adrian on Dehalococcoides-like Chloroflexi. Dr. Marco-Urrea's main task will be the investigation of the physiological and biochemical characteristics of strain CBDB1 in an isotopic and proteomic context.
Strain CBDB1 is a remarkable organism that can transform highly chlorinated dioxins, biphenyls, phenols and benzenes. It is also unique in terms of physiology, morphology and biochemistry, and its genome is fully sequenced.
After an initial training phase in which isotope fractionation during growth with perchloroethene will be investigated, Dr. Marco-Urrea will use biochemical and isotopic methods to identify water-soluble electron acceptors for strain CBDB1. In a third phase, an initial proteome map under standard conditions and with alternative electron acceptors will be determined.

Project Details:

Start Date: 01.09.2009
End Date: 31.08.2011
EU Contribution: 161,563 Euro
Total Costs: 161,563 Euro
Funding Scheme: Intra-European Fellowships (IEF)
Administrative Contact Person: Annette Schmidt, annette.schmidt@ufz.de
Scientific Contact: Dr Ernest Marco-Urrea, ernest.marco-urrea@ufz.de