Ph.D. University of Washington
In bacteria, the two-component system (TCS) is the most prevalent for sensing and transducing environmental signals into the cell. The PmrA-PmrB TCS, responsible for sensing external stimuli of high Fe3+ and mild acidic conditions, can control the genes involved in lipopolysaccharide modification and polymyxin resistance in pathogens. In Klebsiella pneumoniae, the small basic connector protein PmrD protects phospho-PmrA and prolongs the expression of PmrA-activated genes.