Title: Conditions for Cellulose Synthesis in Agrobacterium tumefaciens

(Research Advisor: Dr. Ann Matthysse)

Mitchell Kaye

Agrobacterium tumefaciens is a common soil bacterium that infects plants and causes crown gall tumors at wound and grafting sites.  This bacterium synthesizes cellulose, which aids in its attachment to plant surfaces and colonization of roots.  Despite the fact that cellulose is an abundant biological molecule, the mechanism of cellulose synthesis is not well understood. My research is examining the conditions required for cellulose synthesis in A. tumefaciens.  To do this, I am studying cellulose synthesis in bacteria in both log and stationary phases of growth and am looking at the effects of adding soytone to the bacterial cultures.  In addition, I am trying to determine the role of two regulatory genes, celR and celG, on cellulose synthesis.  Hopefully, the knowledge of conditions that promote cellulose synthesis can be used to develop strategies to control bacterial root colonization.