Peter Setlow, Ph.D.

Board of Trustees Distinguished Professor
Professor of Molecular, Microbial and Structural Biology
Academic Office Location:
Molecular, Microbial and Structural Biology
University of Connecticut Health Center
263 Farmington Avenue
Farmington, CT 06030-3305
Phone: 860-679-2607
Fax: 860-679-3408
Email: setlow@nso2.uchc.edu
Website(s): Molecular Biology & Biochemistry Graduate Program

Education
DegreeInstitutionMajor
Ph.D.Brandeis Univ.Biochemistry
B.A.Swarthmore CollegeChemistry

Post-Graduate Training
TrainingInstitutionSpecialty
Post DoctoralDepartment of Biochemistry, Stanford University School of MedicineFellow with Dr. Arthur Kornberg
FellowshipDepartment of Biochemistry, Stanford University School of MedicineResearch Fellow with Dr. Arthur Kornberg

Awards
Name of Award/HonorAwarding Organization
Elected a memberConnecticut Academy of Science and Engineering
Recipient of the first Journal of Bacteriology Editors’ Award for Service on the Journal of Bacteriology Editorial Board Journal of Bacteriology
Elected to first class of Academy of Distinguished EducatorsUniversity of Connecticut Health Center
Elected Honorary MemberSociety for Applied Microbiology
Osborn Biomedical Science Graduate Teaching Award RecipientGraduate Student Organization
Appointed as a Board of Trustees Distinguished ProfessorUCONN Health Center
Elected a FellowAmerican Academy of Microbiology
MERIT Award for the Study of “Degradative Reactions in Spore Germination” 1994-2004National Institutes of Health
Recognition for Outstanding Teaching Second Year Medical and Dental Students
Postdoctoral Fellowship 1968-1970National Science Foundation
Predoctoral Fellowship 1965-1968 Revson Foundation
Elected to Sigma XiSwarthmore College
Spores of bacteria of Bacillus species are extraordinarily resistant to all manner of harsh treatments, and largely because of this resistance, spores of some Bacillus species are major agents of food spoilage and food-borne and other diseases (eg-Bacillus anthracis). The conversion of a dormant Bacillus spore into a vegetative bacterium by the process of spore germination is also a relatively simple differentiating system that is readily amenable to both biochemical and genetic analysis. While much has been learned in recent years on the mechanisms of spore resistance and germination, there is still much that is unknown. Dr. Setlow's laboratory has ongoing multidisciplinary research projects attempting to determine: 1) the mechanisms involved in the extraordinary resistance of spores to heat and oxidizing agents; 2) the mechanism(s) of spore germination and its heterogeneity; and 3) the structure and organization of the inner membrane of spores. Methods used in these projects include: 1) molecular biology to make directed mutants in key spore genes; 2) confocal fluorescence spectroscopy to localize and co-localize proteins in spores; 3) determination of structures of key spore germination and resistance proteins by X-ray crystallography; 4) classical genetics to identify new genes important in aspects of spore germination and resistance; 5) identify new factors important in spore resistance; 6) determine the mechanism(s) whereby moist heat, the most commonly used method to kill spores, actually works to kill spores; and 7) determine factors responsible for the extreme heterogeneity in spore germination such that while most spores in populations germinate within 30 min of addition of a germinant, a small percentage of spores may not germinate for hours or even days.

Accepting Lab Rotation Students: Summer '13, Fall '13, Spring '14


Lab Rotation Projects
Lab Rotation Projects can involve the use of many, many different techniques and include:

1) Overexpression, purification and crystallization of several proteins involved in spore germination.

2) Analysis of the mechanism of the “commitment” of spores to germinate, and what factors influence this commitment.

3) Analysis of the role of divalent cations, especially Mn2+ ions, in protecting spores against a variety of oxidizing agents;

4) Isolate and characterize mutant Bacillus subtilis strains that are defective in germination with multiple nutrient germinants, as such mutants might allow identification of a putative “integrator” protein that sums up signals from many different germinants to “direct” a rate of spore germination appropriate for the germination condition;

5) Isolate a mutant defective in the germination with cationic surfactants that appear to work by interactinf directly with the spore’s plasma membrane in some fashion.

6) Construction of a functional fusion to Green Fluorescent Protein (GFP) to a germination protein and localization of this GFP fusion in spores, as well as colocalization with other germination proteins;

7) Use electron microscopy to probe for the existence of a close packed array of spore germination proteins in the spore’s plasma membrane.

Journal Articles

Books

  • Smith I, Slepecky RA, Setlow P (eds.) (1989) Regulation of Procaryotic Development: Structural and Functional Analysis of Bacterial Sporulation and Germination

Book Chapters

  • Endoprotease GPR
    Setlow P (1998) Handbook of Proteolytic Enzymes
  • Regulation of expression of the sspE gene which codes for small, acid soluble protein-gamma of Bacillus subtilis spores.
    Setlow, P., P. Fajardo, R.H. Hackett, J.M. Mason, B.C. Setlow and D. Sun. (1987) Genetics and Biotechnology of Bacilli 157-162
  • Small, acid-soluble spore proteins of Bacillus: products of a sporulation-specific, multigene family
    Fliss, E.R., M.J. Connors, C.A. Loshon, E. Curiel-Quesada, B. Setlow and P. Setlow. (1985) Molecular Biology of Microbial Development 60-66

Abstracts

  • The coenzyme A-protein disulfides in dormant bacterial spores: their formation during sporulation and their cleavage during spore germination
    Setlow B, Setlow P (1977) Fed Proc (36) 927
  • DNA Polymerase: two distinct enzymes in a single polypeptide
    Setlow P (1971) Fed Proc (30)
  • ATP and RNA synthesis early in germination of bacterial spores
    Setlow P (1970) Fed Proc (29)
  • A NADH-NADPH diaphorase from Clostridium kluyverii
    Kaplan F, Setlow P, Kaplan NO (1968) Bacteriol Proc 134
  • Effect of some denaturing conditions on lipoyl dehydrogenase
    Setlow P, Kaplan NO (1967) Fed Proc (26) 385

Book Sections

  • Bacterial spores
    Setlow P (2010) Industrial Pharmaceutical Microbiology-Supplement S10.1-S10.16
  • Resistance of bacterial spores
    Setlow P (2010) Bacterial Stress Response 319-332
  • Enhanced safety and extended shelf life of fresh produce for the military
    Setlow P, Doona CJ, Feeherry FE, Kustin K, Sisson D, Chandra S (2009) Microbial Safety of Fresh Produce: Challenges, Perspectives and Strategies 263-288
  • Mycobacteria make spores?
    Setlow P (2009) Small Things Considered: The Microbe Blog
  • Bacterial endospores: mechanisms that contribute to their longevity and resistance
    Setlow P (2008) Biological Indicators for Sterilization Processes 25-54
  • Effects of high pressure on spores
    Setlow P (2008) High-Pressure Microbiology 35-52
  • Germination of spores of Bacillus subtilis by high pressure
    Setlow P (2007) High Pressure Processing of Foods 15-40
  • Spores and their significance
    Setlow P, Johnson EA (2007) Food Microbiology, Fundamentals and Frontiers 35-67
  • Endoprotease GPR
    Setlow P (2003) Handbook of Proteolytic Enzymes 1183-1187
  • Spore germination and outgrowth
    Paidhungat M, Setlow P (2002) Bacillus subtilis and its Relatives: from Genes to Cells 537-548
  • Spores and their significance
    Setlow P, Johnson EA (2001) Food Microbiology 33-70
  • Resistance of bacterial spores
    Setlow P (2000) Bacterial Stress Responses 217-230
  • Morphogenesis and properties of the bacterial spore
    Driks A, Setlow P (1999) Prokaryotic Development 191-218
  • Spores and their significance
    Setlow P, Johnson E (1997) Food Microbiology 30-65
  • DNA structure, spore formation and spore properties
    Setlow P (1993) Spores XI: Regulation of Bacterial Differentiation 181-194
  • Spore structural proteins
    Setlow P (1993) Bacillus subtilis and other Gram-Positive Bacteria: Biochemistry, Physiology, and Molecular Genetics 801-809
  • Sporulation, germination and outgrowth
    Nicholson WL, Setlow P (1990) Molecular Biological Methods for Bacillus 391-450
  • Studies of DNA topology during Bacillus subtilis sporulation
    Nicholson WL, Sun D, Setlow P (1990) Genetics and Biotechnology of Bacilli, Vol. 3 339-348
  • Forespore specific genes of Bacillus subtilis: function and regulation of expression
    Setlow P (1989) Regulation of Procaryotic Development 211-221
  • Genes coding for small, acid soluble spore proteins of Bacillus subtilis: cloning, expression, regulation, mapping and deletion
    Setlow P, Mason JM, Connors MJ (1986) Bacillus Molecular Genetics and Biotechnology Applications 171-183
  • Protein degradation during bacterial spore germination
    Setlow P (1985) Fundamental and Applied Aspects of Bacterial Spores 285-296
  • Germination and outgrowth
    Setlow P (1983) The Bacterial Spore, Vol. II 211-254
  • Biochemistry of bacterial forespore development and spore germination
    Setlow P (1981) Sporulation and Germination 13-28
  • Degradation of dormant spore protein during germination of Bacillus megaterium spores
    Setlow P (1978) Limited Proteolysis in Microorganisms 109-117
  • Protein metabolism during germination of spores of Bacillus megaterium
    Setlow P (1977) Spore Research 1976 662-682
  • Energy metabolism and metabolism of small molecules during germination of spores of Bacillus species
    Setlow P (1975) Spores VI 443-450
  • Protein degradation and amino acid metabolism during germination of Bacillus megaterium spores
    Setlow P, Primus G (1975) Spores VI 451-457

Conference Papers

Letters

Notes

Other

Reviews

Short Surveys