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| PD. Dr.
Ruth Schmitz |
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Education
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1989 |
Diploma,
(Microbiology)
University of
Marburg, Germany |
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1992 |
Ph.D.,
(Microbiology)
University of Marburg, Germany |
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1994 -1996 |
Postdoc, University of
California, Berkeley, California, USA |
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7/2001 |
Habilitation |
Academic Positions
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1996-today |
University of Göttingen, Department of Microbiology
& Genetics |
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Mailing address:
Institut für Mikrobiologie & Genetik
der Universität Göttingen,
Grisebachstr.8,
D-37077 Göttingen, Germany
Tel. (++49)-551-39-3796 /-3813
Fax. (++49)-551-393793
Email. rschmit@gwdg.de
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Projects
Regulation
of nitrogen fixation in Klebsiella pneumoniae.
Under oxygen- and
nitrogen-limiting growth conditions K. pneumoniae is able to reduce molecular
nitrogen to ammonia. Synthesis of the key enzyme nitrogenase is regulated in
response to molecular oxygen and combined nitrogen by the two regulatory
proteins NifA and NifL. Our research is focused on the characterization of the
oxygen and nitrogen signal transduction towards NifL and NifA by genetic,
biochemical and molecular biological methods.
Molecular
and biochemical characterization of the nitrogen regulatory network in the
methanogenic Archaeon Methanosarcina mazei Gö1
We are currently
focusing on the characterization of nitrogen fixation in M. mazei and its
regulation. Our goal is to analyze the regulatory network of nitrogen metabolism
in M. mazei using classical genetic approaches and modern molecular tools
arising from the knowledge of the complete genome sequence.
Construction
of environmental libraries and screening for acquired abilities of the resulting
recombinant organisms.
It has been estimated
that > 99 % of microorganisms observable in nature typically can not be
cultivated by using standard techniques. Thus, a large fraction of the diversity
in an environment is still unknown. Our approach is to use the genetic diversity
of the micro-organisms in a certain environment as a whole to encounter new
genes and gene products for various purposes. The genetic diversity is accessed
by isolation of DNA followed by direct cloning of functional genes from
environmental sample
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Selected Publications
Grabbe R, Schmitz RA. (2003)
Oxygen control of nif gene expression in Klebsiella pneumoniae depends on
NifL reduction at the cytoplasmic membrane by electrons derived from the
reduced quinone pool. Eur J Biochem. 270(7):1555-66.
Ehlers C, Grabbe R, Schmitz RA (2002). Characterization of GlnK1 from
Methanosarcina mazei strain Gö1: Complementation of an Escherichia
coli glnK mutant strain by M. mazei GlnK1. J. Bacteriol. 184: 1028
-1040.
Deppenmeier U, …Schmitz RA, …Gunsalus RP, Fritz HJ, Gottschalk G. (2002)
The genome of Methanosarcina mazei: evidence for lateral gene transfer
between bacteria and archaea. J Mol Microbiol Biotechnol 4(4):453-61
Klopprogge K, Grabbe R, Hoppert M, Schmitz RA (2002).
Membrane association of Klebsiella pneumoniae NifL is affected
by molecular oxygen and combined nitrogen.
Archives of Microbiology, 117, 223-234.
Klopprogge K, Stips J, Schmitz RA (2002). The inhibitory form of NifL
from Klebsiella pneumoniae exhibits ATPase activity only when
synthesized under nitrogen sufficiency.
Biochem. Biophys. Acta 1594, 243-54.
Schmitz RA, Klopprogge K, Grabbe R (2002).
Regulation of nitrogen
fixation in Klebsiella pneumoniae and Azotobacter vinelandii:
NifL, transducing two environmental signals to the nif
transcriptional activator NifA (Minireview). J. Mol. Microbiol. Biotechnol. 4,
235-242.
Henne A, Schmitz RA, Bömeke M, Gottschalk G, Daniel R (2000) Screening
of environmental DNA libraries for the presence of genes conferring
lipolytic activity on Escherichia coli. Appl. Environ. Microbiol.
66, 3113-3116.
Henne A, Daniel R, Schmitz RA, Gottschalk, G (1999) Construction of
environmental DNA libraries in Escherichia coli and screening for the
presence of genes conferring utilization of 4-hydroxybutyrate. Appl.
Environ. Microbiol. 65, 3901-3907.
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Articles in German
Daniel R., Schmitz R.A. und W. Streit
(2002) aus Wattenmeer und
Wüstensand. Georgia Augusta. 1: 111-115
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