We study the molecular biology of gene expression in bacteria with focus on the Actinobacteria. The large and ancient phylum Actinobacteria are Gram-postive bacteria with a high content of G+C in their DNA, and includes many bacteria of medical and industrial importance. For example, the Streptomyces genus are famous as the source of most clinically useful antibiotics, whereas the major human pathogen Mycobacterium tuberculosis kills more than 2 million people worldwide each year. Our primary model organism is the genetically and physiologically well-characterised Streptomyces coelicolor. We have recently widened our interests to include the control of fermentation in the bioethanol-producing thermophile Geobacillus thermoglucosidasius.

Current areas of interest include

• Control of antibiotic production
• RNA polymerase-binding factors
• Redox sensing mechanisms
• Control of gene expression in biofuel-producing microorganisms

Our work is currently funded by: