title: An intracellular compass spatially coordinates cell cycle modules in Caulobacter crescentus.
abstract: Cellular functions in Bacteria, such as chromosome segregation and cytokinesis, result from cascades of molecular events operating largely as self-contained modules. Regulated timing of these cellular modules stems from global genetic circuits that allow precise temporal activation with respect to cell cycle progression and cell differentiation. Critically, many of these functions occur at defined locations within the cell, and therefore regulators of each module must communicate to remain coordinated in space. In this perspective, we highlight recent discoveries in Caulobacter crescentus asymmetric cell division to illuminate diverse mechanisms by which a cellular compass, composed of scaffolding and signaling proteins, directs cell cycle modules to their exact cellular addresses.
authors: Department of Developmental Biology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA.
authors: Keren
authors: K
authors: Lasker
authors: Department of Developmental Biology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA; Department of Biochemistry, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA.
authors: Thomas H
authors: TH
authors: Mann
authors: Department of Developmental Biology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA. Electronic address: shapiro@stanford.edu.
authors: Lucy
authors: L
authors: Shapiro
mesh_terms: D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D016935:Caulobacter crescentus / Q000166:cytology* / Q000235:genetics; D002455:Cell Division / Q000502:physiology*; D020090:Chromosome Segregation / Q000502:physiology; D004261:DNA Replication / Q000235:genetics; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000378:metabolism; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D005407:Flagella / Q000378:metabolism; D053263:Gene Regulatory Networks / Q000235:genetics*; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D001426:Bacterial Proteins; C097706:CtrA protein, Caulobacter; D004269:DNA, Bacterial; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D014157:Transcription Factors