Großes Physikalisches Kolloquium | October 25, 16:45
Force generation in bacterial interactions: How, when, and why?
Bacteria are the smallest free-living organisms, but they are not isolated. Bacteria communicate by exchanging chemical signals and DNA in a process called gene transfer. They can actively control the transition from a lifestyle as individual motile cells to a lifestyle in large and structured clusters. The type IV pilus is an extracellular polymer which is essential for gene transfer, cluster formation, motility, and adhesion in many bacterial species. When it depolymerizes, it generates force exceeding 100pN, making it the strongest molecular motor characterized so far. Using a combination between nanotechnological and genetic tools we address the molecular mechanism of force generation, its regulation, and its biological function.
Prof. Dr. Berenike Maier, University of Cologne
Hörsaal 3
Contact: not specified