THE 鈥渟ensor鈥� that allows anaerobic bacteria to detect and avoid oxygen may
have been discovered. Because oxygen is deadly to most anaerobes, targeting this
sensor could open a new line of attack against a vast range of bacteria,
including many that cause diseases.
A team led by Donald Kurtz of the University of Georgia, Athens, was studying
an oxygen-binding protein found in a marine worm. A search of genetic databases
revealed that at least a dozen bacteria possess a similar protein (
Biochemistry, vol 39, p 5117). Kurtz thinks the bacteria use the protein to
detect oxygen, and that the worm adapted it for different purposes.
He plans to confirm the protein鈥檚 role by removing the gene and seeing if
bacteria can still avoid oxygen. 鈥淲e鈥檙e hoping it鈥檚 a general phenomenon,鈥� he
says.
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