Date Presented
Spring 5-8-2018
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Bachelor of Science
Department
Biomedical Science
First Advisor
Dr. Christine Terry
Second Advisor
Dr. Kathrine Geszvain
Third Advisor
Dr. Nancy Cowden
Abstract
Manganese is an essential element for all living things. Manganese plays a role in geochemical cycles, like the nitrogen fixation cycle and the oxygen-evolving complex. The focus of this study is the manganese oxidation mechanism. Manganese oxidation plays a role in metabolic and antioxidant processes. Pseudomonas putida GB-1 is commonly used to study the process of manganese oxidation in bacteria. We used the previously identified Mn-oxidase genes, mopA, mnxG and mcoA, from P. putida GB-1 to look for conservation of manganese oxidation in other organisms. Basic Local Alignment Search Tool (BLAST) was used to find homologs of these three genes in other bacterial species. We focused our analysis on loci that were found in non-pseudomonad species. Sequence alignments were used to analyze similarities and differences on both an amino acid and DNA scales. To complement these bioinformatic studies, microbes were isolated from around the campus of Lynchburg College, Lynchburg, Virginia, and tested for the ability to oxidize manganese. Those that tested positive were identified through sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene. Additional studies of the manganese oxidizing capabilities of these strains were described. The goal was to see what genes are conserved from species to species in the manganese oxidation mechanism.
Recommended Citation
Collins, T'onna, "Examining Manganese Oxidation in Bacteria through Bioinformatics and Environmental Sampling" (2018). Undergraduate Theses and Capstone Projects. 55.
https://digitalshowcase.lynchburg.edu/utcp/55