Event Title

Role of the ApeE Esterase in the Growth of Salmonella on Phospholipids as Phosphate Sources

Presenter Information

Stella Menuba, Minnesota State University - Mankato

Location

CSU Ballroom

Start Date

21-4-2014 10:00 AM

End Date

21-4-2014 11:30 AM

Student's Major

Biological Sciences

Student's College

Science, Engineering and Technology

Mentor's Name

Christopher Conlin

Mentor's Email Address

christopher.conlin@mnsu.edu

Mentor's Department

Biological Sciences

Mentor's College

Science, Engineering and Technology

Description

Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium, a bacterium frequently implicated in outbreaks of food poisoning, is able to survive in limiting phosphate environments by inducing a number of proteins that allow it to use a variety of compounds as phosphate sources. The gene apeE is induced when the cells are starved for phosphate. This gene encodes an outer membrane esterase that is not found in E. coli, and has been shown to be necessary for the growth of Salmonella Typhimurium in phosphate-limiting environments, such as those that may be encountered in an egg. To demonstrate the role of apeE in these environments, wild type and apeE mutant strains of Salmonella Typhimurium were separately tested for growth on minimal medium containing either phosphatidylcholine or lisophosphatidycholine as phosphate sources. Growth was observed for the wild type strain in the presence of both phosphate donors, but no growth was observed for the apeE mutant. To further support the role of apeE in the growth of Salmonella Typhimurium under phosphate-limiting conditions, other purified phospholipids as well as egg yolks will be tested for their ability to support the growth of both strains.

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