Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 10, 2026
13:28
Single-cell Analysis of Bacillus subtilis Biofilms Using Fluorescence Microscopy and Flow Cytometry
Published on: February 15, 2012
Shape determination in Bacillus subtilis.
Rut Carballido-López1, Alex Formstone
1Génétique Microbienne, Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique, 78352 Jouy-en-Josas Cedex, France. rut.carballido-lopez@jouy.inra.fr
Current Opinion in Microbiology
|November 6, 2007
Summary
Bacterial shape is maintained by cell wall polymers and orchestrated by cytoskeletal proteins like FtsZ and MreB. These dynamic elements guide cell wall synthesis for proper bacterial growth and division.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Cell Biology
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Prokaryotic cytoskeletal elements have reshaped understanding of bacterial cell morphogenesis.
- The rod shape of Bacillus subtilis relies on peptidoglycan and teichoic acid cell wall polymers.
- Insertion patterns of these polymers during growth dictate cell shape.
Purpose of the Study:
- To elucidate the role of bacterial cytoskeletons in maintaining cell shape.
- To understand how cytoskeletal elements orchestrate cell wall synthesis and hydrolysis.
- To detail the spatiotemporal regulation of macromolecular machinery assembly during bacterial growth and division.
Main Methods:
- Investigated the function of tubulin-like (FtsZ) and actin-like (MreB) cytoskeletons.
- Analyzed the assembly of macromolecular machineries involved in cell wall synthesis.
- Studied the processes of cell division and cell elongation in Bacillus subtilis.
Main Results:
- FtsZ and MreB cytoskeletons dynamically orchestrate bacterial cell morphogenesis.
- These cytoskeletons guide the insertion of peptidoglycan and teichoic acids.
- Spatiotemporal control by cytoskeletons is crucial for cell wall synthesis and hydrolysis during division and elongation.
Conclusions:
- Bacterial cytoskeletons are key regulators of cell shape and division.
- The dynamic interplay between cytoskeletons and cell wall synthesis machinery is essential for bacterial morphogenesis.
- FtsZ and MreB provide a framework for understanding prokaryotic cell structure and growth.
Related Concept Videos
01:29Microbial Morphologies
Bacterial and archaeal cells exhibit remarkable diversity in shape and structure, critical in their adaptability and functionality. Among bacteria, the most commonly observed shapes include cocci and bacilli. Cocci are spherical and may exist singly or in groupings such as pairs (diplococci), chains (streptococci), clusters (staphylococci), or tetrads. Bacilli, in contrast, are rod-shaped and can also occur as single cells, in pairs, or chains, depending on their environmental and genetic...
01:29Cytoskeletal Proteins in Bacteria
Bacterial cells were initially considered simple, randomly organized structures lacking a cytoskeleton. However, the discovery of cytoskeleton homologs in bacteria led to the change of this opinion. Bacterial cytoskeletal filaments regulate the cell shape, cell polarity, cell division, and partitioning of plasmids during cell division. It was later discovered that bacterial cytoskeletal proteins, mainly actin and tubulin homologs, are diverse compared to their eukaryotic counterparts. On the...
01:30Bacterial Phylum Actinobacteria
Coryneform bacteria are gram-positive, aerobic, nonmotile rods that exhibit irregular, club-shaped, or V-shaped arrangements. Their V-shape results from snapping division, where the inner cell wall layer forms the cross-wall, while the outer layer remains intact until it ruptures on one side, causing the daughter cells to bend away.The primary genera are Corynebacterium and Arthrobacter. Corynebacterium includes diverse species, ranging from saprophytes to pathogens like Corynebacterium...
01:18Flagella and Motility in Bacteria
Flagella are specialized, thread-like structures that extend from a bacteria's cell envelope. They play a crucial role in motility and chemotaxis. Their structural organization and functioning exemplify sophisticated biological engineering, enabling bacterial survival and adaptability in diverse environments.Structure of the FlagellumA bacterial flagellum consists of three key components: the filament, the hook, and basal body. The filament, a long, helical structure composed of repeating...
01:17Gene Regulation During Sporulation
Sporulation is a complex developmental process that allows certain Gram-positive bacteria, such as Bacillus subtilis and Clostridium species, to survive extreme environmental conditions. This process is tightly regulated by a series of signaling cascades and transcriptional controls, ensuring the formation of a highly resistant endospore.Sporulation is triggered by unfavorable conditions, such as nutrient depletion, and is governed by a phosphorelay system. One of the sensor kinases, such as...
01:28Fimbriae, Pili, and Axial Filaments
Fimbriae and pili are specialized bacterial surface structures that play pivotal roles in adhesion, genetic exchange, and motility. Composed primarily of pilin protein, these hairlike appendages are crucial for bacterial survival and pathogenicity in various environments.Fimbriae: Adhesion and PathogenicityFimbriae are fine, filamentous structures measuring 2–10 nanometers in diameter and are densely distributed on the bacterial cell surface. They facilitate bacterial adhesion to abiotic...