ISIS Neutron and Muon Source Data Journal

Defects in the Core Oligosaccharide in Gram Negative Bacterial Outer Membrane Models Expose Anionic Binding Sites, A Potential Achilles Heel

Abstract: The outer membrane of Gram negative bacterial is an effective barrier for many harmful agents. We have been developing and testing advanced models of the Gram negative bacterial outer surface to understand the biochemistry of this important biological surface with molecular precision. So how do cationic antimicrobial agents bind to the anionic phosphate groups of the Lipopolysaccharides (LPS) during their membrane disruption activity? Here, using neutron reflectometry we intend to induce holes in the core region of a model asymmetric gram negative bacterial outer membrane and, using a new titration technique we have developed, examine the Debye screening lengths of the electrostatic bonds formed between a cationic antimicrobial protein (colicin N) and the anionic phosphate groups of the core oligosaccharides of LPS. We hypothesise that the holes allow for short range electrostatic bonds.

Principal Investigator: Dr Luke Clifton
Experimenter: Dr Nicolò Paracini
Experimenter: Dr Maxmilian Skoda
Experimenter: Professor Jeremy Lakey [Deactivated] [Deactivated]

DOI: 10.5286/ISIS.E.RB1800063

ISIS Experiment Number: RB1800063

Publisher: STFC ISIS Neutron and Muon Source

Data format: RAW/Nexus
Select the data format above to find out more about it.

Data Citation

The recommended format for citing this dataset in a research publication is as:
[author], [date], [title], [publisher], [doi]

For Example:
Dr Luke Clifton et al; (2018): Defects in the Core Oligosaccharide in Gram Negative Bacterial Outer Membrane Models Expose Anionic Binding Sites, A Potential Achilles Heel, STFC ISIS Neutron and Muon Source, https://doi.org/10.5286/ISIS.E.RB1800063

Data is released under the CC-BY-4.0 license.