Our overall goal is to understand on the molecular level how the expression of individual genes is integrated into the total metabolism of the cell during altered physiological states.
Current work is focused on two projects.
A major role for IHF in gene expression in E. coli. We have used 2-D gel electrophoresis of total E. coli proteins and in vitro binding and transcription analysis to show that IHF alters the expression of an unusually large number of genes in E. coli. Ongoing studies suggest that IHF belongs to a new class of DNA binding proteins that change DNA conformation to allow for proper functioning of other transcription factors. The role of IHF in expression of the omp operons. These operons mediate the expression of OmpF and OmpC, the major E. coli porin proteins that are transcriptionally regulated by a signal transducton system that senses growth medium osmolarity.