Bacteria, in particular E. coli, are used as model organisms to understand how organisms adapt to their environment. Bacteria are exposed to drastic environmental changes to which they must react. They developed intricate devices through which they recognize and respond to ambient signals. A signaling cascade from the cell surface into the cytoplasm is studied. Similar molecular mechanisms function in the uptake of certain nutrients and of bacterial protein toxins, which are included in our studies. Transfer of signals, nutrients and toxins require an energy coupling device to transfer energy from the cytoplasmic membrane into the outer membrane whose structure will be determined.

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