Imke Schröder  Office Phone: (310) 206-0319 Lab Phone: (310) 825-9400 Office: MSB 3801A Lab: MSB 3805 Address: Dr. Imke Schroeder Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics 1602 Molecular Science Building UCLA Los Angeles, CA 90095-1489 FAX: (310) 206-5231 imkes@microbio.ucla.edu

Research Interest

Our research focuses on identifying and understanding components of electron transport processes in the Archaea and Bacteria. Respiration is one of the fundamental processes of life. While higher animals and plants respire with oxygen, the Bacteria and Archaea display great diversity in the substrates utilized for respiration. A variety of organic and inorganic compounds present in nature can serve as either electron donors or electron acceptors to support prokaryotic life. Our research efforts focus on respiratory processes that involve nitrate, iron and fumarate. The ability to oxidize and reduce organic and inorganic compounds gives rise to the diversity of prokaryotic life in nature and is critical for maintaining a global chemical balance. Despite the diversity of prokaryotic respiration the basic principle of coupling the free energy released by the active respiratory chain to the generation of a proton motive force is universal to life on earth. The proton motive force is then used to drive ATP synthesis, nutrient uptake and other energy consuming reactions that are required to nourish and maintain life. The study of “ancient” Archaea may give insight as to how electron transfer reactions have evolved to the level of oxygen respiration performed by human mitochondria.
The two main projects of our research group involve the nitrate respiratory pathway of Pyrobaculum aerophilum and the iron metabolism of Archaeoglobus fulgidus.

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