title: Processive movement of MreB-associated cell wall biosynthetic complexes in bacteria.
abstract: The peptidoglycan cell wall and the actin-like MreB cytoskeleton are major determinants of cell shape in rod-shaped bacteria. The prevailing model postulates that helical, membrane-associated MreB filaments organize elongation-specific peptidoglycan-synthesizing complexes along sidewalls. We used total internal reflection fluorescence microscopy to visualize the dynamic relation between MreB isoforms and cell wall synthesis in live Bacillus subtilis cells. During exponential growth, MreB proteins did not form helical structures. Instead, together with other morphogenetic factors, they assembled into discrete patches that moved processively along peripheral tracks perpendicular to the cell axis. Patch motility was largely powered by cell wall synthesis, and MreB polymers restricted diffusion of patch components in the membrane and oriented patch motion.
authors.affiliation: Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry, Martinsried, Germany.
authors.forename: Julia
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Domínguez-Escobar
authors.forename: Arnaud
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Chastanet
authors.forename: Alvaro H
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Crevenna
authors.forename: Vincent
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Fromion
authors.forename: Roland
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Wedlich-Söldner
authors.forename: Rut
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Carballido-López
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D001412:Bacillus subtilis / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000378:metabolism; D002473:Cell Wall / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D004058:Diffusion; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D008856:Microscopy, Fluorescence; D008954:Models, Biological; D009024:Morphogenesis; D009038:Motion; D009154:Mutation; D010457:Peptidoglycan / Q000378:metabolism*; D058105:Polymerization; D020033:Protein Isoforms / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D010457:Peptidoglycan; D020033:Protein Isoforms; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins