title: Shapeshifting to Survive: Shape Determination and Regulation in Caulobacter crescentus.
abstract: Bacterial cell shape is a genetically encoded and inherited feature that is optimized for efficient growth, survival, and propagation of bacteria. In addition, bacterial cell morphology is adaptable to changes in environmental conditions. Work in recent years has demonstrated that individual features of cell shape, such as length or curvature, arise through the spatial regulation of cell wall synthesis by cytoskeletal proteins. However, the mechanisms by which these different morphogenetic factors are coordinated and how they may be globally regulated in response to cell cycle and environmental cues are only beginning to emerge. Here, we have summarized recent advances that have been made to understand morphology in the dimorphic Gram-negative bacterium Caulobacter crescentus.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Chemistry, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA.
authors.forename: Selamawit Abi
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Woldemeskel
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Chemistry, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA. Electronic address: egoley1@jhmi.edu.
authors.forename: Erin D
authors.initials: ED
authors.lastname: Goley
mesh_terms: D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D016935:Caulobacter crescentus / Q000166:cytology* / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D002453:Cell Cycle; D002455:Cell Division; D002473:Cell Wall / Q000378:metabolism; D003598:Cytoskeletal Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D003599:Cytoskeleton / Q000378:metabolism; D050296:Microbial Viability; D010457:Peptidoglycan / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D013312:Stress, Physiological
chemical_list: D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D003598:Cytoskeletal Proteins; D010457:Peptidoglycan
keywords: Caulobacter crescentus; cell shape; cytoskeleton; peptidoglycan; stress response