Ph.D., University of Virginia

   

Office:     516 Life Sciences Building

Phone:   419-372-8527

Email:     bullerj@bgsu.edu

   

Research:

Microbial physiology; Cyanobacteria

   

Center for Photochemical Sciences

Community of Science (COS) Profile

   

 

Research Interests:

Our work is currently focused on the regulation of nutrient-stress-inducible genes in cyanobacteria. We have identified genes and gene products inducible under nutrient (N, S, P) limitation and stationary phase conditions, and this work has aided in the development of whole-cell biosensors detecting the bioavailability of nutrients in environmental samples. Secondly, we examine the composition and dynamics of cyanobacterial communities in aquatic systems. Third, we are examining the structural requirements for productive electron transport in photosynthesis by studying the protein-protein interactions occurring between the copper protein plastocyanin and its reaction partners (Photosystem I and cytochrome f).

Selected Publications

Ilikchyan, I.N., R.M.L. McKay, J.P. Zehr, S.T. Dyhrman and G.S. Bullerjahn. 2009. Detection and expression of the phosphonate transporter gene phnD in marine and freshwater picocyanobacteria. Environmental Microbiology 11: 1314-1324.

Sharma, A.K., K. Sommerfeld, G.S. Bullerjahn, A. Matteson, S.W. Wilhelm, J. Jezbera, U. Brandt, W.F. Doolittle and M.W. Hahn. 2009. Widespread distribution of actinorhodopsin genes in freshwater habitats and among diverse actinobacterial lineages. ISME Journal 3: 726-737.

Hulsker, R., M.V. Baranova, G.S. Bullerjahn and M. Ubbink. 2008. Dynamics in the transient Prochlorothrix hollandica plastocyanin-cytochrome f complex. Journal of the American Chemical Society 130: 1985-1991.

Ivanikova, N.V., R.M.L. McKay, G.S. Bullerjahn and R.W. Sterner. 2007. Nitrate utilization in Lake Superior is impaired by low nutrient (P, Fe) availability and seasonal light limitation a cyanobacterial bioreporter study. Journal of Phycology 43: 475-484.

Ivanikova, N.V., L. Popels, R.M.L. McKay and G.S. Bullerjahn. 2007. Lake Superior supports unique clusters of cyanobacterial picoplankton. Applied and Environmental Microbiology 73: 4055-4066.

Wilhelm, S.W., G.S. Bullerjahn, J.M. Rinta-Kanto, M.L. Eldridge and R.A. Bourbonniere. 2006. Seasonal hypoxia and the genetic diversity of prokaryote populations in the central basin hypolimnion of Lake Erie: evidence for abundant picocyanobacteria and photosynthesis. Journal of Great Lakes Research 32: 657-671.

Ivanikova, N.V., R.M.L. McKay and G.S. Bullerjahn. 2005. Construction and characterization of a freshwater cyanobacterial bioreporter capable of assessing nitrate assimilatory capacity in freshwaters. Limnology and Oceanography: Methods 3: 86 - 93.