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

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: in press.

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

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.

Boyanapalli, R., G.S. Bullerjahn, C. Pohl, P.L. Croot, P.W. Boyd and R.M.L. McKay. 2007. A luminescent whole-cell cyanobacterial bioreporter for measuring Fe availability in diverse marine environments. Applied and Environmental Microbiology 73: 1019-1024.

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 & Oceanography: Methods 3: 86-93.

Hervas, M., E. Myshkin, N. Vintonenko, M.A. De la Rosa, G.S. Bullerjahn and J.A. Navarro. 2003. Mutagenesis of Prochlorothrix plastocyanin reveals additional features in Photosystem I interactions. Journal of Biological Chemistry 278: 8179-8183.

Porta D., G.S. Bullerjahn, K.A. Durham, S.W. Wilhelm, M.R. Twiss and R.M.L. McKay. 2003. Physiological characterization of a Synechococcus sp. (Cyanophyceae) strain PCC7942 iron-dependent bioreporter. Journal of Phycology 39: 64-73.

Crowley, P.B. N. Vintonenko, G.S. Bullerjahn and M. Ubbink. 2002. Plastocyanin – cytochrome f interactions: the influence of hydrophobic patch mutants studied by NMR. Biochemistry 41: 15698-15705.

Myshkin, E., N.B. Leontis and G.S. Bullerjahn. 2002. Computational simulation of the docking of Prochlorothrix plastocyanin to Photosystem I: modeling the electron transfer complex. Biophysical Journal 82: 3305-3313.

Navarro, J.A., E. Myshkin, M.A. De la Rosa, G.S. Bullerjahn and M. Hervas. 2001. The unique proline of the Prochlorothrix hollandica plastocyanin hydrophobic patch impairs electron transfer to Photosystem I. Journal of Biological Chemistry 276: 37501-37505.

Babu, C.R., B.F. Volkman and G.S. Bullerjahn. 1999. NMR solution structure of plastocyanin from the photosynthetic prokaryote, Prochlorothrix hollandica. Biochemistry 38: 4988-4995.