Undergraduate Honors Thesis Projects

Date of Award

Spring 2026

Document Type

Honors Paper

Degree Name

Biology-BS

Department

Biology & Earth Science

Advisor

Dr. Jennifer Bennett

First Committee Member

Dr. Jennifer Bennett

Second Committee Member

Dr. Brigitte Ramos

Third Committee Member

Dr. Karen Steigman

Keywords

Microbiology, bacteria, science, genetics, biology, bioinformatics

Subject Categories

Bacteriology | Bioinformatics | Higher Education | Microbiology

Abstract

Streptomyces coelicolor is a filamentous, gram-positive bacterium that grows in soil (Guilarro et al 1988). S.coelicolor has a fully sequenced genome, but there are many genes which still have not been characterized. The goal of this study is to characterize a novel regulator gene in Streptomyces coelicolor. This is completed by analyzing a mutant constructed by random transposon mutagenesis. Methods of analysis used during this study include macroscopic phenotyping, phase-contrast microscopy, and antibiotic resistance assays. Complementation and overexpression plasmid construction was also initiated using methods such as restriction digestion, PCR, transformation into competent E. coli cells, and gel electrophoresis. Bioinformatics such as protein domain mapping, sequence alignments, and genetic mapping were also used to better understand the possible gene/protein function. The mutant displayed an absence of aerial hyphae formation and production of the red pigmented antibiotic undecylprodigiosin. The TH10 (transposon mutant) and MT1110 (wild type) strains exhibited phenotypic differences which indicate a role in development and antibiotic production for this novel gene. Based on bioinformatics, the gene of interest is a putative regulator protein that is part of the sigma E regulon. The characterization of this novel gene can help understand how Streptomyces coelicolor adapts to environments and potentially controls antibiotic production and resistance mechanisms.

Licensing Permission

Copyright, all rights reserved. Fair Use

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Acknowledgement 2

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