Research

Her research focus on understanding the molecular mechanisms that allow bacteria to adapt and differentiate in response to changes in the environment. In particular, she focuses on understanding how cells of Myxococcus xanthus initiate and execute the developmental program that culminates in the formation of spore-filled fruiting bodies in response to starvation. She made major contributions to the research area intercellular signaling and information processing. In addition to identifying numerous proteins required for fruiting body formation, several signal transduction pathways involving proteins of two-component systems have been elucidated and a novel intercellular signaling molecule that remains associated with the cell surface and is produced by regulated proteolytic cleavage of a precursor has been identified. This proteolytic cleavage is restricted to starving cells by a novel mechanism that restricts secretion of the relevant protease to starving cells. Fruiting body formation depends on changed in the motility behavior. Lately, she has shown that regulation of motility depends on proteins that oscillate between the cell poles.