~ Naren

Citation

Thesis Title
Regulation of histidine catabolism in Pseudomonas fluorescens SBW25

Read article at Massey Research Online:

As an amino acid, histidine is a good nutrient source for many bacteria. However, histidine utilisation poses a significant challenge as it produces excess nitrogen over carbon. Carbon and nitrogen are two of the most important building blocks of all living organisms. It is crucial to coordinate cellular carbon and nitrogen metabolisms. Thus, the rate of histidine utilisation must be carefully regulated to maintain the cellular carbon/nitrogen balance. Using a combination of genetic and biochemical analyses, Ms Naren established the overall regulatory network for histidine utilisation in a plant growth-promoting bacterium Pseudomonas fluorescens. She elucidated how carbon and nitrogen metabolisms are coordinated in the case of histidine utilisation to maximise bacterial fitness in nutrient-complex environments. Her research has integrated the current understanding of carbon regulation into the cellular nitrogen metabolism of bacteria.

Supervisors
Associate Professor Xue-Xian Zhang
Distinguished Professor Paul Rainey