A metabolic sensor governing cell size in bacteria.
Nutrient availability is one of the strongest determinants of cell size. When grown in rich media, single-celled organisms such as yeast and bacteria can be up to twice the size of their slow-growing counterparts. The ability to modulate size in a nutrient-dependent manner requires cells to: (1) detect when they have reached the appropriate mass for a given growth rate and (2) transmit this information to the division apparatus. We report the identification of a metabolic sensor that couples nutritional availability to division in Bacillus subtilis. A key component of this sensor is an effector, UgtP, which localizes to the division site in a nutrient-dependent manner and inhibits assembly of the tubulin-like cell division protein FtsZ. This sensor serves to maintain a constant ratio of FtsZ rings to cell length regardless of growth rate and ensures that cells reach the appropriate mass and complete chromosome segregation prior to cytokinesis.
Weart
Richard B
RB
Department of Biology, Washington University, St. Louis, MO 63130, USA.
Lee
Amy H
AH
Chien
An-Chun
AC
Haeusser
Daniel P
DP
Hill
Norbert S
NS
Levin
Petra Anne
PA
D001412:Bacillus subtilis / Q000166:cytology* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism*; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure; D020090:Chromosome Segregation / Q000235:genetics; D002876:Chromosomes, Bacterial / Q000378:metabolism; D003598:Cytoskeletal Proteins / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure; D004261:DNA Replication; D005502:Food; D008954:Models, Biological; D009154:Mutation / Q000235:genetics; D010641:Phenotype; D021381:Protein Transport; D014532:Uridine Diphosphate Glucose / Q000096:biosynthesis
D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D003598:Cytoskeletal Proteins; C071525:FtsZ protein, Bacteria; D014532:Uridine Diphosphate Glucose