Dr. Janice Pata, Director of the Wadsworth Center’s Division of Scientific Cores, delivered a virtual seminar to the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis on December 9, 2025. Her presentation, titled “Initiation of Okazaki Fragment DNA Synthesis in Gram-Positive Bacteria: The Roles of DnaG, DnaE, and PolC,” highlighted research from the Pata Laboratory examining the structure and enzyme kinetics of three DNA polymerases from Staphylococcus aureus that are essential for bacterial DNA replication.
These polymerases – DnaG, DnaE, and PolC – are attractive targets for the development of new classes of antibiotics, but progress in drug development has historically been limited by gaps in mechanistic understanding. Dr. Pata’s work addresses these challenges by providing detailed structural and functional insights into how these enzymes coordinate DNA synthesis in Gram-positive bacteria. The clinical relevance of this research is underscored by the antibiotic ibezapolstat, which specifically targets PolC, an enzyme found only in Gram-positive bacteria. Ibezapolstat is in Phase 3 clinical trials for the treatment of Clostridioides difficile infections.
Dr. Pata’s invited presentation reflects the Wadsworth Center’s continued leadership in fundamental research that informs antibiotic development and addresses critical challenges in infectious disease and antimicrobial resistance.