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Bacterial Corrinoid Metabolism Across Scales: From Molecular Specificity to Community Dynamics

Award Number: R35GM139633
ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF GENERAL MEDICAL SCIENCES
OPDIV: NIH
AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY
AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: SCIENTIFIC/HEALTH RESEARCH (INCLUDES SURVEYS)
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 03/01/2021
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 02/28/2026

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Bacterial Corrinoid Metabolism Across Scales: From Molecular Specificity to Community Dynamics - Project Summary/Abstract Microbial communities inhabit nearly all environments on earth, including the human body, where they can influence health in myriad ways. These communities are often composed of hundreds or more species that form networks of metabolic interactions. Because metabolic interactions are complex and difficult to study at a molecular level, my research program focuses on interactions involving one family of metabolites – corrinoid cofactors – as a model to understand metabolic interactions among bacteria. Corrinoids are the vitamin B12 family of cobalt-containing metabolites that are used as enzyme cofactors for a variety of reactions. Corrinoids, like many amino acids, nucleobases, and other cofactors, are synthesized by only a fraction of bacteria that use them, and therefore are considered to be shared metabolites. Corrinoids are unique in their structural diversity, with over a dozen different forms discovered and up to eight of these forms found in microbial community samples, including the human gut. This structural diversity is a significant factor in microbial interactions because most bacteria are selective in the corrinoids they can use. The hypothesis driving this work is that structurally distinct corrinoids can be used as handles to manipulate microbial communities. Our previous NIGMS-funded research has laid the groundwork for the proposed research by establishing experimental methods; discovering and characterizing new genes; investigating corrinoid selectivity in enzymes, riboswitches, and bacteria; and creating a bioinformatic pipeline to predict corrinoid metabolism in bacteria. Our long-term vision is to build on this foundation to generate a newly detailed understanding of microbial community interactions through the study of corrinoids across scales, from molecular mechanisms to whole community perturbations. We will achieve this goal by (1) identifying genome sequence signatures predictive of bacterial corrinoid preferences in corrinoid- dependent enzymes and riboswitches, with an emphasis on evolutionary approaches and (2) investigating the molecular basis of corrinoid-dependent community dynamics by applying sequencing, culture-dependent, and genetic approaches to a model human gut-derived enrichment culture. As a test of our ability to understand and predict corrinoid-based metabolism and community dynamics, we will design and build bacterial strains with corrinoid-dependent metabolic networks, as well as consortia of bacteria with predictable dynamics. This research will be accomplished by using a combination of genetics, biochemistry, microbiology, and bioinformatics, building upon the past research of my group. Our work on corrinoids will not only serve as a model for microbial community interactions across systems, but may also lead to the development of new methods to alter microbial communities for beneficial outcomes.


Issue Date FY	Funding FY	Legal Entity Name	Legal Entity Address	Legal Entity City	Legal Entity State	Legal Entity Zip Code	Legal Entity COUNTY	Legal Entity COUNTRY	Assistance Listing	Award Code	Budget Year	Action Date	Action Type	Action Amount

Issue Date FY: 2025 ( Subtotal = $390,613 )
2025	2025	REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, THE	1608 4TH ST STE 201	BERKELEY	CA	94710	ALAMEDA	USA	Biomedical Research and Research Training	002	5	8/14/2025	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$39,062
2025	2025	REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, THE	1608 4TH ST STE 201	BERKELEY	CA	94710	ALAMEDA	USA	Biomedical Research and Research Training	001	5	3/20/2025	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$351,551
2025	2024	REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, THE	1608 4TH ST STE 201	BERKELEY	CA	94710	ALAMEDA	USA	Biomedical Research and Research Training	000	4	11/15/2024	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$0
														Subtotal = $390,613

Issue Date FY: 2024 ( Subtotal = $474,140 )
2024	2024	REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, THE	1608 4TH ST STE 201	BERKELEY	CA	94710	ALAMEDA	USA	Biomedical Research and Research Training	001	4	2/16/2024	SUPPLEMENT FOR EXPANSION	$83,527
2024	2024	REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, THE	1608 4TH ST STE 201	BERKELEY	CA	94710	ALAMEDA	USA	Biomedical Research and Research Training	000	4	2/15/2024	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$351,551
2024	2024	REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, THE	1608 4TH ST STE 201	BERKELEY	CA	94710	ALAMEDA	USA	Biomedical Research and Research Training	002	4	6/27/2024	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$39,062
														Subtotal = $474,140

Issue Date FY: 2023 ( Subtotal = $838,280 )
2023	2023	REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, THE	1608 4TH ST STE 201	BERKELEY	CA	94710	ALAMEDA	USA	Biomedical Research and Research Training	002	3	6/13/2023	SUPPLEMENT FOR EXPANSION	$364,140
2023	2023	REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, THE	1608 4TH ST STE 201	BERKELEY	CA	94710	ALAMEDA	USA	Biomedical Research and Research Training	001	3	3/1/2023	SUPPLEMENT FOR EXPANSION	$83,527
2023	2023	REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, THE	1608 4TH ST STE 201	BERKELEY	CA	94710	ALAMEDA	USA	Biomedical Research and Research Training	000	3	2/14/2023	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$390,613
														Subtotal = $838,280

Issue Date FY: 2022 ( Subtotal = $390,613 )
2022	2022	REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, THE	1608 4TH ST STE 201	BERKELEY	CA	94710	ALAMEDA	USA	Biomedical Research and Research Training	001	2	7/20/2022	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$39,062
2022	2022	REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, THE	1608 4TH ST STE 201	BERKELEY	CA	94710	ALAMEDA	USA	Biomedical Research and Research Training	000	2	2/3/2022	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$351,551
														Subtotal = $390,613

Issue Date FY: 2021 ( Subtotal = $269,553 )
2021	2021	REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, THE	1608 4TH ST STE 220	BERKELEY	CA	94710	ALAMEDA	USA	Biomedical Research and Research Training	000	1	2/9/2021	NEW	$269,553
														Subtotal = $269,553

Grand Total All Awards = $2,363,199

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Bacterial Corrinoid Metabolism Across Scales: From Molecular Specificity to Community Dynamics

Award Number: R35GM139633

ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF GENERAL MEDICAL SCIENCES

OPDIV: NIH

AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY

AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: SCIENTIFIC/HEALTH RESEARCH (INCLUDES SURVEYS)

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 03/01/2021

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 02/28/2026

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