Translational Research - Université de Genève

Bacteriology
Dominique Belin
Department of Pathology and Immunology
Dominique Belin obtained his PhD in 1979 at the University of Geneva. He attended Rockefeller
University in New York for three years as a postdoctoral Fellow, and then became visiting
Associate Professor at Harvard Medical School, Boston (1990-1994). He was appointed Associate
Professor (2002) and then full Professor (2009) of the Department of Pathology and
Immunology.
Genetic analysis of the translocation machinery in E. coli and of unknown genes of
bacteriophages T4
Our studies of the interaction of signal sequences with the translocation machinery in E. coli,
has led to the identification of a new class of mutations that selectively decrease export
mediated by mutant or foreign signal sequences. We have also developed a gain-of-function
bioinformatic and biochemical system to define the parameters of signal sequences.
We are currently investigating the potential functions of phage T4 unknown genes. We have
identified inserts that are toxic when expressed and are concentrating our efforts on gene 55.1.
High expression of 55.1 prevents growth while low expression confers a high sensitivity to UV
irradiation caused by a deficient repair. We have isolated phage and bacterial suppressors of
these phenotypes. This approach will be extended to the other toxic unknown genes of T4.
10 Université de Genève • Faculté de médecine
Mattenberger Y, Mattson S, Métrailler J, Silva F, Belin D (2011) 55.1, a gene of unknown function
of phage T4, impacts on Escherichia coli folate metabolism and blocks DNA repair by the
NER. Mol Microbiol. 82:1406-21
Van Stelten J, Silva F, Belin D & Silhavy T (2009) Effects of Antibiotics and a Proto-Oncogene
Homolog on Destruction of Protein Translocator SecY. Science 325: 753-6.
Biéler S, Silva F, Soto C & Belin D (2006) Bactericidal Activity of both Secreted and Non-secreted
Microcin E492 Requires the Mannose Permease. J. Bact. 188, 7049-61.
Belin D, Guzman LM, Bost S, Konakova M, Silva F & Beckwith J (2004) Functional activity of
eucaryotic signal sequences in Escherichia coli: the ovalbumin family of serine protease
inhibitors. J. Mol. Biol. 335, 437-53.
Guzman LM, Belin D, Carson MJ and Beckwith J (1995) Tight regulation, modulation, and high
level expression by vectors containing the arabinose P BAD promoter. J. Bact. 177, 4121-4130.
Bost S and Belin D (1995). A new genetic selection identifies essential residues in SecG, a
component of the Escherichia coli protein export machinery, The EMBO Journal 14,
4412-4421.
Contact: Dominique.Belin@unige.ch
Bacteriology
Université de Genève • Faculté de médecine
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