Exploring the tug-of-war over metals during infection
During bacterial infections, microbes and their hosts engage in a tug-of-war over essential metals. Microbes, which need metals such as iron to survive, try to scavenge them from the host, while the host tries to lock them up so microbes can’t get them. Both sides deploy many proteins and other molecules in this struggle, and by studying these complex interactions, MIT associate professor of chemistry Elizabeth Nolan hopes to glean information that could be useful in helping scientists design new drugs to fight bacterial infections. “Understanding how our innate immune system works is important for thinking about the development of new ways to treat infectious disease,” says Nolan, who recently earned tenure in MIT’s Department of Chemistry. Metals including iron, zinc, magnesium, and calcium help cells with a wide range of functions, including cell respiration, catalyzing chemical reactions, signal transduction, and maintaining structural integrity of proteins and nucleic acids. About 30 percent of...