The actin-like MreB cytoskeleton organizes viral DNA replication in bacteria.
Little is known about the organization or proteins involved in membrane-associated replication of prokaryotic genomes. Here we show that the actin-like MreB cytoskeleton of the distantly related bacteria Escherichia coli and Bacillus subtilis is required for efficient viral DNA replication. Detailed analyses of B. subtilis phage ϕ29 showed that the MreB cytoskeleton plays a crucial role in organizing phage DNA replication at the membrane. Thus, phage double-stranded DNA and components of the ϕ29 replication machinery localize in peripheral helix-like structures in a cytoskeleton-dependent way. Importantly, we show that MreB interacts directly with the ϕ29 membrane-protein p16.7, responsible for attaching viral DNA at the cell membrane. Altogether, the results reveal another function for the MreB cytoskeleton and describe a mechanism by which viral DNA replication is organized at the bacterial membrane.
Muñoz-Espín
Daniel
D
Instituto de Biología Molecular Eladio Viñuela and Centro de Biología Molecular Severo Ochoa, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Cientificas-Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Canto Blanco, 28049 Madrid, Spain.
Daniel
Richard
R
Kawai
Yoshikazu
Y
Carballido-López
Rut
R
Castilla-Llorente
Virginia
V
Errington
Jeff
J
Meijer
Wilfried J J
WJ
Salas
Margarita
M
D008841:Actin Cytoskeleton / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D017103:Bacillus Phages / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D001412:Bacillus subtilis / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000821:virology*; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D025622:Bacteriophage PRD1 / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000378:metabolism / Q000821:virology; D004261:DNA Replication / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000821:virology; D029968:Escherichia coli Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D005798:Genes, Bacterial; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D008954:Models, Biological; D009154:Mutation; D014764:Viral Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D053585:Virus Attachment; D014779:Virus Replication / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*
D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D004279:DNA, Viral; D029968:Escherichia coli Proteins; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D014764:Viral Proteins; C433528:protein p16.7, bacterophage phi29; C078473:MreB protein, E coli