Uwe Remminghorst
Doctor of Philosophy, (Microbiology)
Study Completed: 2007
College of Sciences
Citation
Thesis Title
Support Polymerisation and Export of Alginate in Pseudomonas aeruginosa: Functional Assignment and Catalytic Mechanism of Alg8/44.
Read article at Massey Research Online: 
Mr Remminghorst investigated the requirement of the two proteins, Alg8 and Alg44, for alginate biosynthesis in the opportunistic human pathogen, Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Cystic fibrosis patients are infected by Pseudomonas aeruginosa, which coincides with fatal prognosis. In cystic fibrosis patients, the production of alginate by Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a major factor contributing to high patient morbidity. The secreted alginate matrix allows formation of extensive biofilms in human lungs, resulting in a highly persistent infection. Mr Remminghorst demonstrated the requirement of both proteins for alginate production. He was able to further characterize their membrane topology, subcellular localization and catalytic regions. The results of this work were used to generate a model describing a multiprotein complex involved in alginate polymerization, modification and export.
Supervisors
Professor Bernd Rehm
Dr Jan Schmid