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Min-protein oscillations in round bacteria.

Kerwyn Casey Huang1, Ned S Wingreen

  • 1Department of Physics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 77 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA. kchuang@princeton.edu

Physical Biology
|October 6, 2005
PubMed
Summary

Min proteins form spatial oscillators in both rod-shaped and round bacteria. This study models how these oscillations function in cocci, revealing geometric constraints and division plane selection mechanisms.

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Area of Science:

  • Cell biology
  • Microbiology
  • Computational biology

Background:

  • The Min protein system regulates bacterial cell division site selection in rod-shaped Escherichia coli by forming pole-to-pole oscillations.
  • Homologs of Min proteins from the coccoid bacterium Neisseria gonorrhoeae also exhibit oscillatory behavior when expressed in E. coli.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the behavior of Min protein oscillations in round bacterial cells (cocci) using a numerical model.
  • To understand the geometric factors influencing Min protein oscillations and division plane selection in cocci.

Main Methods:

  • Development and application of a numerical model for Min protein dynamics.
  • Simulation of oscillations in silico across a range of spherical cell geometries.

Main Results:

  • The numerical model successfully reproduced Min protein oscillations in silico for round cells.
  • The model explained the absence of MinE-protein rings in round E. coli mutants.
  • Specific minimum and maximum radii were identified for oscillation occurrence and localization in round cells.

Conclusions:

  • Min protein oscillations are feasible in cocci and are influenced by cell geometry.
  • Geometric constraints dictate the occurrence and localization of Min protein oscillations in round bacteria.
  • Min protein oscillations may play a role in selecting the division plane along the long axis in nearly round cells.

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