Myriam Achour

My research focuses on a novel intracellular Ca2+ sensor, EfhP, in Pseudomonas aeruginosa, I would like to understand how it transduces Ca2+ signal to perform its functions. We have previously characterized EfhP’s role in mediating the Ca2+ regulation of P. aeruginosa virulence factors, including the production of pyoverdine, pyocyanin, and alginate. We have also showed EfhP binds Ca2+ specifically via its EF hand motifs and subsequently undergoes a conformational change that increases its overall hydrophobicity. In order to determine the mechanisms enabling EfhP’s role in P. aeruginosa, I aim to identify and characterize EfhP protein binding partners and determine the molecular prerequisite of their binding.