An ISU microbiology professor is part of an international research team that has uncovered new knowledge about how life functions at the molecular level. Gregory Phillips, associate professor of microbiology, was part of the team that uncovered a previously unknown gene, yidC. Scientists from Ohio State University, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York City and the University of Hohenheim in Stuttgart, Germany, gathered their findings with Phillips to write the paper “YidC Mediates Membrane Protein Insertion in Bacteria,” which told about their discovery. “Each person contributed bits and pieces to the puzzle,” Phillips said. “As work was collated, a picture emerged that wasn’t shown by individual works.” The paper describes how the product of yidC functions to insert proteins into cell membranes. Phillips said the team found that proteins, once thought to be spontaneously inserted into membranes, actually required yidC. Phillips said this gene is also found in the mitochondria of both plant and animal cells, suggesting it plays a role in all living systems. The mitochondria are subcellular structures that generate energy for the cell. “In addition to providing new insights into how all living cells function, the research could also lead to new targets for antibiotics and new applications in biotechnology,” Phillips said. Phillips said it took a couple of years for the researchers to meet and discuss their findings. The findings were based upon individual discoveries of group members, he said. “It’s difficult for one lab to have all insights. By joining resources, it allows a more complete story to develop,” he said. “To make an impact it requires interaction within a group of people.” Damon Huber, member of the team, said there’s an important need for collaboration, especially in science. “For certain projects, no one lab may have the knowledge, skill, resources or time to do all of things that an idea for a project requires,” said Huber, graduate student at Harvard. “By cooperating they accomplished their goal.” Huber said sometimes one group picks up where another left off. “Rather than start from scratch, the second group would find it much easier to collaborate with the first group,” he said. Huber said the ultimate aim of science is the pursuit of knowledge. “We can learn a lot more by working with each other,” he said. “One person working a problem may not have much effect, but if many people help, the effect will be greater.” The team’s findings appear in the Aug. 10 issue of the journal Nature, a peer-reviewed, interdisciplinary scientific journal.