Study Finds Molecular Switch That Triggers Bacterial Pathogenicity
Scientists have revealed that the supercoiling of bacterial chromosomes around histone-like proteins can trigger the expression of genes that make the microbe invasive. The discovery could provide a new target for the development of drugs to prevent or treat bacterial infection.
The study lead author Michal Hammel, research scientist in the Molecular Biophysics & Integrated Bioimaging (MBIB) Division, teamed up with MBIB faculty scientist Carolyn Larabell; both are pictured above. Read more on the Berkeley Lab News Center.