# Membrane-associated DNA transport machines in Bacillus subtilis

> **NIH NIH R01** · UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN-MADISON · 2021 · $300,912

## Abstract

Abstract
Bacterial cells that form a division septum prior to completion of chromosome segregation face an
extraordinary topological and mechanistic challenge to complete the DNA segregation process
successfully. The cell division membranes, a complex of DNA-translocating membrane proteins, and
the large, circular chromosome substrates all must come together in concert to successfully sort and
separate the replicated chromosomes. Critical components of bacterial cell division have been studied
for several decades, and yet fundamental features of the structure and function of the chromosome
segregation machinery remain unexplored. The long-term goal of this project which combines a variety
of biochemical structure-function studies with real-time, live-cell imaging is to understand in molecular
mechanistic terms how chromosomal DNA is successfully partitioned across a cellular division septum.
What is the path of the DNA substrate through the segregation machinery? How do the complexes
function together to couple the ATP hydrolysis cycle with DNA movement? When the end of the circular
chromosome is reached, how are the loops of DNA resolved across the division plane? Do these
proteins truly function in isolation for their DNA translocation activity, or are there additional cellular
components that are involved? Advances in these areas will produce a comprehensive model of the
molecular architecture and associated biochemical events involved in this DNA segregation process.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10242857
- **Project number:** 5R01GM121865-05
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN-MADISON
- **Principal Investigator:** Briana M. Burton
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $300,912
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2017-09-01 → 2023-08-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10242857

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10242857, Membrane-associated DNA transport machines in Bacillus subtilis (5R01GM121865-05). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-22 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10242857. Licensed CC0.

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