Phosphorus Metabolism in Methanogenic Bacteria
{'Code': '08070400', 'Directorate': {'Abbreviation': 'BIO', 'LongName': 'Direct For Biological Sciences'}, 'Division': {'Abbreviation': 'MCB', 'LongName': 'Div Of Molecular and Cellular Bioscience'}}
{'SignBlockName': 'Kamal Shukla'}
The funded research focuses on the role of two major phosphorus                 compounds in Methanobacterium thermoautotrophicum and                           Methanothermus fervidus.  These thermophilic methanogens have                   optimal growth temperatures of 65 and 84 C, respectively.  The                  major focus is on the synthesis and function of cyclic 2,3-                     diphosphoglycerate (cyclic DPG), the first example of a cyclic                  pyrophosphate from either biological or nonbiological origins.                  Cyclic DPG levels range from 70 mM in M. thermoautotrophicum to                 300 mM in M. fervidus, indicating a major role in thermal                       adaptation.  Tracer experiments with radioactive phosphorus will                provide important information on the turnover of cyclic DPG and                 indicate whether it might have a role in energy flow in                         mesophilic methanogens and a dual role in thermophilic                          methanogens.  Recently this lab has discovered a large (36 mM)                  long-chain polyphosphate pool in M. thermoautotrophicum; this                   pool has a half-life under 10 minutes, indicating a major role in               energy flow.  The main goal is the identification and                           characterization of the enzymes in the cyclic DPG and                           polyphosphate pathways, with special attention to the possible                  role of the cyclic DPG enzymes as a thermal sensing system.                                                                                                     Elucidation of these pathways will contribute significantly to                  our understanding of the biochemistry of methanogens and could                  have significant impact on the application of methanogens in                    biotechnology.*** //
{'FirstName': 'David', 'LastName': 'Fahrney', 'EmailAddress': None, 'StartDate': '01/15/1988', 'EndDate': None, 'RoleCode': 'Principal Investigator'}
{'Name': 'Colorado State University', 'CityName': 'Fort Collins', 'ZipCode': '805232002', 'PhoneNumber': '9704916355', 'StreetAddress': '601 S Howes St', 'CountryName': 'United States', 'StateName': 'Colorado', 'StateCode': 'CO'}
{'Code': '1144', 'Text': 'Molecular Biophysics'}
{'url': 'https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/download?DownloadFileName=1987&All=true', 'xml': '8719737.xml'}