Discovery of novel chemoeffectors and rational design of Escherichia coli chemoreceptor specificity

• DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1306811110
• Publication Date: 2013-10-01T06:09:28Z
• Authors: Shuangyu Bi; Daqi Yu; Guangwei Si; Chunxiong Luo; Tongqing Li; Qi Ouyang; Vladimir Jakovljevic; Victor Sourjik; Yuhai Tu; Luhua Lai
• Keywords: Rational design; tar (computing)

Significance Chemotaxis is a universal phenomenon whereby motile cells, like bacteria, navigate by following chemical gradients in their environment. Bacterial chemoreceptors can bind with specific chemoeffectors and transfer environmental signals to the cell. However, molecular mechanisms for chemoeffector binding signaling are not fully understood, rational design of bacteria respond new chemicals has been challenging. In this study, using combined experimental computational approach, we discovered novel antagonists attractants Escherichia coli chemoreceptor Tar. The interaction differences Tar provide clues alter Tar–ligand specificity. Based on these understandings, E. strain was successfully engineered sense l -arginine, ligand unrecognized before.