Quinones and Quinone Reductase: Roles in Resisting Oxidative and Nitrosative Stress in Escherichia Coli

Quinones are essential components of biological, electron transfer chains but also play key antioxidant roles in microbial, plant and animal cells. Using Escherichia coli as a model system, we aim to: <OL> <LI> Understand the basis of protection by quinones from oxidative stress and from nitric oxide (NO), and related reactive species (i.e. nitrosative stress); <LI>Determine the function of quinone oxidoreductase (Qor), in particular explaining its presumed role in quinone reduction, oxygen consumption protection from oxidative and nitrosative stresses.