Bacterial DNA segregation by the actin-like MreB protein.
Faithful chromosome segregation is vital to all organisms. Eukaryotic cells use the tubulin-based cytoskeleton to segregate their chromosomes during mitosis. A handful of papers have provided convincing evidence that, in bacteria, this task is accomplished by the actin homolog MreB. In particular, a recent study by Gitai et al. demonstrates that MreB specifically binds to and segregates the replication origin of the bacterial chromosome.
Kruse
Thomas
T
Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Campusvej 55, University of Southern Denmark, DK-5230 Odense M, Denmark.
Gerdes
Kenn
K
D000199:Actins / Q000378:metabolism*; D001412:Bacillus subtilis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics*; D016935:Caulobacter crescentus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics*; D020090:Chromosome Segregation / Q000187:drug effects; D002876:Chromosomes, Bacterial / Q000187:drug effects; D003599:Cytoskeleton / Q000378:metabolism; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics*; D029968:Escherichia coli Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D018741:Replication Origin; D013890:Thiourea / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000494:pharmacology
D000199:Actins; D004269:DNA, Bacterial; D029968:Escherichia coli Proteins; C471255:ParM protein, E coli; C078473:MreB protein, E coli; C015799:2,6-dichlorobenzylthiopseudourea; D013890:Thiourea