Systems Biodynamics Lab

Jesse Stricker
Postdoctoral Fellow

Ph.D., Cell Biology (Duke University, 2002)
B.S., Biology (University of Oregon, 1995)

Email: stricker AT bioeng.ucsd.edu
Phone: 858.822.3857
My CV or Resume

Research Profile:
Bacteria are relatively simple organisms, and some bacterial species (such as Escherichia coli) are among the most well-understood biological systems. Biologists have taken advantage of this, using bacteria as model systems in almost every field of modern biology. However, this simplicity can be deceiving, as bacteria are exquisitely evolved to thrive in very specific and often demanding environments. When we examine the regulatory circuitry that controls gene expression and the reaction of a bacterial cell to its environment, we find that these genetic circuits are much more complicated than commonly believed. They feature feedback control, delays, sensitivity to global processes, and crosstalk with other circuits.

My research involves adapting endogenous bacterial genetic circuitry to perform novel functions. Components of well-described operons such as the ara, lac, mel, or tet operons have been extensively investigated. If we understand the function of these components, we should be able to adapt them to build new genetic circuits. These circuits might have new functions, perhaps analogous to electric circuits, or perhaps driving protein production and cellular response in a useful fashion.

Publications:
Stricker J., Cookson S., Bennett M.R., Tsimring L.S. and Hasty J. A fast, robust and tunable synthetic genetic oscillator. Submitted, in revision.

Grilly C., Stricker J., Pang W.L., Bennett M.R. and Hasty J. (2007). A synthetic gene network for tuning protein degradation in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Mol. Syst. Biol. 3: 127. [PDF]

Redick S.D., Stricker J., Briscoe G. and Erickson H.P. (2005). Mutants of FtsZ targeting the protofilament interface: effects on cell division and GTPase activity. J. Bacteriol. 187: 2727-36. [PDF]

Stricker J. and Erickson H.P. (2003). In vivo characterization of Escherichia coli ftsZ mutants: effects on Z-ring structure and function. J. Bacteriol. 185: 4796-805. [PDF]

Stricker J., Maddox P., Salmon E.D. and Erickson H.P. (2002). Rapid assembly dynamics of the Escherichia coli FtsZ-ring demonstrated by fluorescence recovery after photobleaching. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 99: 171-5. [PDF]

Lu C., Stricker J. and Erickson H.P. (2001). Site-specific mutations of FtsZ—effects on GTPase and in vitro assembly. BMC Microbiol. 1: 7. [PDF]

Lu C., Stricker J. and Erickson H.P. (1998). FtsZ from Escherichia coli, Azotobacter vinelandii, and Thermotoga maritima—quantitation, GTP hydrolysis, and assembly. Cell Motil. Cytoskel. 40: 71-86. [PDF]

Erickson H.P. and Stricker, J. (1998). FtsZ. In Guidebook to the cytoskeletal and motor proteins (T. Kreis and R. Vale, eds.). Oxford University Press.