UW-Madison Dept of Bacteriology

Research Description

Our research concerns the mechanisms by which the expression of genetic information is regulated in the procaryote Bacillus subtilis. This organism forms endospores and serves as a model for studies on cellular differentiation. Current work involves educidation of the molecular mechanism by which carbon source mediated catabolite repression operates. Also, the temporal control of genes expressed only in stationary phase is being investigated. Recently, we have expanded our research activities to include investigations into the microbial degradation of energetic compounds. Currently, members of our research group are concentrating on the bacterial degradation of nitroglycerin. Other studies will investigate degradation of nitrocellulose and dinitroluene.