Assembly of Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins

A postdoctoral position is available to investigate the assembly (folding and membrane integration) of outer membrane proteins (OMPs) in Gram-negative bacteria using a combination of biochemical, biophysical, and structural approaches. While most proteins that integrate into biological membranes contain α-helical membrane spanning segments, OMPs contain a folded “β barrel” structure that serves as a membrane anchor. Although a heterooligomer called the barrel assembly machinery (Bam) complex has been shown to catalyze the membrane insertion of OMPs, its mechanism of action is unknown. Our goal is to elucidate the function of the Bam complex in E. coli by examining the assembly of a variety of different model OMPs ranging from simple proteins that consist entirely of a β barrel to more complex proteins such as “autotransporters”, a family of virulence factors produced by pathogenic bacteria, that contain a large extracellular domain in addition to a β barrel. Because the folding and localization of OMPs is essential for viability, our work may lead to strategies to develop new antibiotics.

For examples of our previous work, please see Pavlova O, et al. (2013) PNAS 110: E938-E947; Roman-Hernandez G, et al. (2014) eLife e04234; Sikdar R, et al. (2017) Nat Commun 8:1309; Hussain S and Bernstein HD (2018) J Biol Chem 293: 2959-2973; Doyle MT and Bernstein HD (2019) Nat Commun 10: 3358. Further information can also be found at https://www.niddk.nih.gov/about-niddk/staff-directory/biography/bernstein-harris.

Candidates should have a Ph.D. and/or M.D. degree by the start of their fellowship and experience in molecular biology, biochemistry, biophysics, microbiology or a related field. Candidates should have less than 5 years of post-doctoral experience.

Interested individuals should email their CV, a cover letter summarizing current and future research interests, and contact information for three references to: Dr. Harris Bernstein, Senior Investigator, Genetics and Biochemistry Branch/NIDDK, National Institutes of Health, 5 Memorial Drive, Room 201, Bethesda, MD 20892; Email: harris_bernsteinnih.gov.

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