title: Bacterial morphogenesis and the enigmatic MreB helix.
abstract: Work over the past decade has highlighted the pivotal role of the actin-like MreB family of proteins in the determination and maintenance of rod cell shape in bacteria. Early images of MreB localization revealed long helical filaments, which were suggestive of a direct role in governing cell wall architecture. However, several more recent, higher-resolution studies have questioned the existence or importance of the helical structures. In this Opinion article, I navigate a path through these conflicting reports, revive the helix model and summarize the key questions that remain to be answered.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Bacterial Cell Biology, Medical Faculty, Newcastle University, Richardson Road, Newcastle-upon-Tyne NE2 4AX, UK.
authors.forename: Jeff
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Errington
mesh_terms: D001419:Bacteria / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism*; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D002473:Cell Wall / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000737:chemistry / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D029968:Escherichia coli Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D010457:Peptidoglycan / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D029968:Escherichia coli Proteins; D010457:Peptidoglycan; C078473:MreB protein, E coli