YhcB, a crucial player in the control of bacterial cell envelope biogenesis (2022-2025)

All life depends on a cell envelope to enclose the chemical reactions that make life possible. But how do cell envelopes grow? How each component of the cell envelope is incorporated into the envelope at the right amount and in the right time to prevent cell death, has been a longstanding question in bacteriology. Using a unique combination of high through put genetic screens and biochemical approaches, this project will characterise a key regulator of cell envelope growth in Gram-negative bacteria. Knowledge arising from this research will provide insight into a fundamental process in bacteria, will develop new technology to probe protein interactions, and will provide novel avenues to solve infection in plants, humans and animals.