# MECHANISTIC STUDIES OF BACTERIAL CHEMOTAXIS

> **NIH NIH R01** · UNIVERSITY OF OREGON · 1987 · $135,785

## Abstract

Bacterial chemotaxis is a complex phenomenon in which bacterial cells can
detect changes in concentrations of specific chemicals, behaviorally
respond to these changes and then adapt to the new concentration of
stimuli.  The behavioral adaptation is associated with the reversible
methylation of at least three chemotaxis specific proteins called methyl
accepting chemotaxis proteins, MCPs.  Our peptide mapping results suggest
that MCPI and MCPII have 6 and 5 potential sites of methylation
respectively.  Experiments are proposed to further investigate this
question and to probe the possible mechanistic role(s) of these multiple
sites of methylation.  In addition to methylation, the MCPs are subject to
a deamidation reaction.  The site of one deamidation has been identified as
a glutamine residue.  The resulting glutamate is a site of methylation.
The physiological role of deamidation will be investigated.

The chemical mechanism by which the extent of methylation of the MCPs is
regulated by attractant and repellent concentrations will be investigated.
Initial results suggest that the activity of the methylesterase enzyme is
regulated by the level of adaptation of the cell.  The regulating element
may be related to the excitatory signal produced upon temporal stimulation
of bacterial cells.  Experiments are proposed to thoroughly investigate
this point.  If this interpretation is correct a direct biochemical assay
of the excitatory signal may be possible.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 3127446
- **Project number:** 5R01AI017808-07
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF OREGON
- **SAM.gov UEI:** Z3FGN9MF92U2
- **Principal Investigator:** Frederick W. Dahlquist
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 1987
- **Award amount:** $135,785
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 1981-04-01 → 1989-03-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/3127446

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 3127446, MECHANISTIC STUDIES OF BACTERIAL CHEMOTAXIS (5R01AI017808-07). Retrieved via MORVS 2026-10-25 from https://api.morvs.ai/grant/nih/3127446. Licensed CC0.

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