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Updated: Aug 18, 2026

Fluorescence Live-cell Imaging of the Complete Vegetative Cell Cycle of the Slow-growing Social Bacterium Myxococcus xanthus
11:45

Fluorescence Live-cell Imaging of the Complete Vegetative Cell Cycle of the Slow-growing Social Bacterium Myxococcus xanthus

Published on: June 20, 2018

Coupling of multicellular morphogenesis and cellular differentiation by an unusual hybrid histidine protein kinase in

Anders Aa Rasmussen1, Steven L Porter, Judith P Armitage

  • 1Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, University of Southern Denmark, Campusvej 55, 5230 Odense M, Denmark.

Molecular Microbiology
|May 11, 2005
PubMed

Insights

This study identifies RodK, a hybrid histidine protein kinase crucial for Myxococcus xanthus development. RodK regulates cell aggregation and sporulation, ensuring proper fruiting body formation.

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Developmental Biology

Background:

  • Myxococcus xanthus undergoes complex multicellular development, including fruiting body formation.
  • Cell aggregation and sporulation are critical, spatially regulated processes during this development.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To characterize the novel hybrid histidine protein kinase RodK and its role in Myxococcus xanthus development.
  • To investigate the function of RodK in spatially coupling cell aggregation and sporulation.

Main Methods:

  • Genetic analysis of a rodK mutant.
  • In vitro phosphorylation assays to determine kinase activity.
  • Analysis of RodK protein levels during development.

Main Results:

  • A rodK mutant exhibits abnormal fruiting bodies and extruding spores.
  • RodK possesses essential in vivo kinase activity.
  • RodK levels decrease during development, dependent on the intercellular A-signal.
  • RodK appears to regulate early gene expression, A-signal production, and C-signal transduction.

Conclusions:

  • RodK is a key regulator of Myxococcus xanthus multicellular development.
  • Its kinase activity is vital for coordinating developmental events.
  • RodK likely undergoes activity changes reflected in phosphotransfer during development.

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