Degree(s)
B.A., Cornell University; Ph.D., Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Learning & Teaching
Courses
- Chem 131: Atoms and Molecules
- Chem 258: Intermediate Biochemistry
Research
Laurie Waters, a biochemist, studies how bacteria sense, respond, and adapt to environmental changes at the molecular level. She is interested in the regulation of gene expression and protein activity during bacterial stress responses. Current work in the Waters laboratory focuses on the role of small proteins and regulatory RNAs in metal ion homeostasis in E. coli.
Details
When a bacterial cell experiences a change in its environment, it mounts an array of intracellular responses that alter its gene expression, metabolism, and behavior. These regulatory outputs are controlled by RNA and protein synthesis and degradation, as well as covalent modification, binding interactions, and subcellular localization. The Waters lab seeks to define how these mechanisms work in the context of metal ion stress. In previous work, we have identified new genes that control manganese levels in bacteria, discovered how a very small protein evolved in bacterial genomes, and characterized an unexpected type of post-transcriptional regulation by a manganese-binding riboswitch.
I truly enjoy working one-on-one with students in the research lab. Undergraduates are involved in every stage of the research process, from experimental design to benchwork and data analysis to presentations and publications. Students interested in semester and summer research in the Waters lab are welcome to contact me for more information.
Works
Publications
† denotes mentored student
- Wright Z†, Seymour S†, Paszczak K†, Truttmann T†, Senn K†, Stilp S†, Jansen N†, Gosz M†, Goeden L†, Anantharaman V, Aravind *L, and Waters LS*. (2023) “The small protein MntS evolved from a signal peptide and acquired a novel function regulating manganese homeostasis in Escherichia coli” Molecular Microbiology Dec 00, 1–15. 10.1111/mmi.15206 *corresponding authors
- Martin JE, Waters LS. (2022) “Regulation of Bacterial Manganese Homeostasis and Usage During Stress Responses and Pathogenesis.” Frontiers in Molecular Biosciences Jul (9) 945724.
- Waters, LS. (2022) “A new class of metal-sensing RNA.” Nature Chemical Biology Aug (18) 798-799.
- Cohen, SC, Hashmi SM, Jones AD, Lykourinou V, Ondrechen MJ, Sridhar S, van be Ven AL, Waters, LS, and Beuning PJ. (2021) Adapting undergraduate research to remote work to increase engagement. The Biophysicist. doi: https://doi.org/10.35459/tbp.2021.000199
- Waters LS. (2020) Bacterial manganese sensing and homeostasis. Current Opinion in Chemical Biology Apr (55) 96-102.
- Zeinert RZ†, Martinez E†, Schmitz J†, Katherine Senn†, Bakhtawar Usman†, Anantharaman V, Aravind L*, Waters LS*. (2018) Structure-function analysis of manganese exporter proteins across bacteria. Journal of Biological Chemistry 293 (15) 5715-5730. *corresponding authors
- Dambach M, Sandoval M†, Updegrove TB, Anatharaman V, Aravind, L, Waters LS*, Storz G*. (2015) The ubiquitous yybP-ykoY riboswitch is a manganese-responsive regulatory element. Molecular Cell 57 (6) 1099-109. *corresponding authors
- Martin JE, Waters LS*, Storz G, Imlay JA*. (2015) The Escherichia coli small protein MntS and exporter MntP optimize the intracellular concentration of manganese. PLoS Genetics 11 (3) e1004977. * corresponding authors
- Waters LS, Sandoval M† , Storz G. (2011) Expanding the Pathways of Metal Homeostasis: A Small Protein and Putative Efflux Pump are Part of the Manganese Regulon. Journal of Bacteriology 193 (21) 5887-97.
- Beuning PJ, Chan S, Waters LS, Addepalli H, Ollivierre JN, Walker GC. (2009) Characterization of Novel Alleles of the E. coli umuDC genes Identifies Additional Interaction Sites of UmuC with the Beta Clamp. Journal of Bacteriology 191 (19) 5910-20.
- Waters LS, Minesinger BK, Wiltrout ME, D’Souza S, Woodruff RV, Walker GC. (2009) Eukaryotic translesion polymerases and their roles and regulation in DNA damage tolerance. Microbiology and Molecular Biology Reviews 73 (1) 134-54.
- Waters LS, Storz G. (2009) Regulatory RNAs in bacteria. Cell 136 (4) 615-28.
- D’Souza S*, Waters LS*, Walker GC. (2008) Novel conserved motifs in Rev1 C-terminus are required for mutagenic DNA damage tolerance. DNA Repair 7 (9) 1455-70. *co-first authors
- Waters LS, Walker GC. (2006) The critical mutagenic translesion DNA polymerase Rev1 is highly expressed during G2/M rather than S-phase. Proceedings of the National Academy of Science 103 (24) 8971-6.
- MacKay VL, Mai B, Waters L, Breeden LL. (2001) Early cell cycle box-mediated transcription of CLN3 and SWI4 contributes to the proper timing of the G1-to-S transition in budding yeast. Molecular and Cellular Biology 21 4140-8.
Other
Grants & Funding
- “Bacterial Manganese Homeostasis”, NIH R15 AREA Grant, 2R15GM137249-02A1, Funded (2024 – 2027)
- “Bacterial Manganese Homeostasis”, NIH R15 AREA Grant, 1R15GM137249-01, Funded (2020 – 2024)
- “Manganese Homeostasis in Bacteria: Characterization of an Mn-Regulated Small Protein and Identification of Novel Mn Exporters” Research Corporation Cottrell Scholar Award, Grant #23595, Funded (2016 – 2020)
- “Characterization of Two New Manganese Homeostasis Proteins in Escherichia coli” Research Corporation Cottrell College Science Award (Single Investigator), Grant #22658, Funded (2014 – 2017)