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Robert Kranz
Title:Professor of Biology
Degree:PHD, University of Illinois
MS, Northern Illinois University
BS, Northern Illinois University
Dept:Biology
Office:Monsanto Lab Building 306A
Mailbox: Full Mailing Address
Phone:(314) 935-4278
E-mail:kranz@wustl.edu

Courses
Principles of Biology I

Research Interests
Gene regulatory studies. As models for gene regulation and transport processes, microbial systems offer distinct advantages over other organisms. These advantages include fast growth rates and versatile genetics and selection techniques. Photosynthetic microorganisms possess the ability to adapt metabolically to a wide range of growth conditions in nature. This capacity to convert from one mode to another is facilitated by complex regulatory systems which respond to changes in their environment. Our research is directed towards understanding these capabilities of photosynthetic bacteria, with particular emphasis on the genes for nitrogen fixation. Professor Kranz's group has obtained mutants in and have cloned regulatory genes, both negative and positive activators, that respond to oxygen and nitrogen availability. Recently, the nitrogen-sensing kinase cascade has been purified and reconstituted with purified RNA polymerase. A third type of bacterial transcription activation system was discovered (model).

Biogenesis of extracellular components (cytochromes). A second project in the lab concerns the study of cytochrome c biogenesis. Professor Kranz has isolated bacterial mutants and genes involved in this assembly process, which occurs outside the cytoplasmic membrane. The model his lab has developed for this process includes an ATP-dependent heme export system homologous to membrane translocators like the cystic fibrosis protein. Other components that are predicted to function as periplasmic heme and apocytochrome chaperones or thioredox proteins are under investigation.

Selected Publications:

Richard, C. L., A. Tandon*, and R. G. Kranz. (2004) Rhodobacter capsulatus nifA1J. Bacteriol 186(3):740-9.

Feissner RE, Beckett CS, Loughman JA, Kranz RG. (2005) Mutations in cytochrome assembly and periplasmic redox pathways in Bordetella pertussis. J Bacteriol

Engineer CB, Fitzsimmons KC, Schmuke JJ, Dotson SB, Kranz RG. (2005) Development and evaluation of a Gal4-mediated LUC/GFP/GUS enhancer trap system in Arabidopsis. BMC Plant Biol. 2005 Jun 7;5(1):9

Feissner RE, Richard-Fogal CL, Frawley ER, Loughman JA, Earley KW, Kranz RG. (2006) Recombinant cytochromes c biogenesis systems I and II and analysis of haem delivery pathways in Escherichia coli. Mol Microbiol. 60(3):563-77.

Feissner RE, Richard-Fogal CL, Frawley ER, Kranz RG. (2006) ABC transporter-mediated release of a heme chaperone allows cytochrome c biogenesis. Mol Microbiol. 61(1):219-31. Promoter: High-GC - 10 Regions in High-GC Bacteria and the Basis for Their Transcription. 187(12):3941-9.