Metabolic Syntrophy Between Human Gut Bacteria and Archea

The Buan Lab

Research Overview

Led by Dr. Nicole Buan, this project's goal is to identify molecular metabolic signals of microbial syntrophy in the human gut, with the long-term goal of developing a predictive model relating host diet to healthy gut microbiota resiliency. In collaboration with Massimiliano Pierobon (Computer Science and Engineering), Myra Cohen (Computer Science and Engineering), and Christine Kelley (Mathematics), wet-lab physiological and biochemical data will be used to evaluate and refine theory-driven computational models of microbial community metabolism.

Selected Publications

1. Catlett, J.L., Ortiz, A.M., and N. R. Buan. Rerouting cellular electron flux to increase the rate of biological methane production. Applied and Environmental Microbiology. In press.
2. Lieber, D. J., Catlett, J., Madayiputhiya, N., Nandukumar, R., Lopez, M.M., Metcalf, W.M., and N. R. Buan. 2014. A multienzyme complex channels substrates and electrons through acetyl-CoA and methane biosynthesis pathways in Methanosarcina. PLOS ONE. 9(9): e107563.
3. Buan, N.R., Kulkarni, G., and W.W. Metcalf. 2011. Genetic methods for Methanosarcina species. In: Rosenzweig, A. and S. Ragsdale, eds. Methods in Methane Metabolism (Methods in Enzymology). 494:23-42.
4. Buan, N.R. and W.W. Metcalf. 2010. Methanogenesis by Methanosarcina acetivorans involves two structurally and functionally distinct classes of heterodisulfide reductase. Mol. Microbiol. 75:843-53.