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Related Concept Videos

Cytoskeletal Proteins in Bacteria01:29

Cytoskeletal 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...
Introduction to the Cytoskeleton01:33

Introduction to the Cytoskeleton

Overview of the Cytoskeleton
The cytoskeleton is a network of protein filaments present within the cell, having three distinct filaments ̶   microfilaments, microtubules, and intermediate filaments. Each has characteristic features that distinguish them, including the dynamics of their assembly and disassembly, mechanical properties, polarity, and the type of molecular motors associated with them. Earlier, they were thought to be present only in eukaryotic cells; however, their homologs were...
Assembly of Cytoskeletal Filaments01:18

Assembly of Cytoskeletal Filaments

Cytoskeletal filaments are polymeric forms of smaller protein subunits. However, individual cytoskeletal filaments may easily disassemble or associate with other similar filaments to form rigid structures. Microfilaments, made of actin monomers, rely on actin-binding proteins to form bundles and create networks of individual actin filaments. Microtubules rely on microtubule-associated proteins (MAPs) to form sturdy cylindrical structures. However, the proteins involved in forming complex...
Intracellular Movement of Viruses and Bacteria01:10

Intracellular Movement of Viruses and Bacteria

Intracellular bacteria and viruses often comprise a group of highly infectious pathogens that can cause several diseases. Bacterial pathogens include those belonging to the genus Rickettsia responsible for conditions such as rocky mountain spotted fever and the Mediterranean spotted fever; Chlamydia, a genus responsible for a sexually transmitted disease; Coxiella burnetii, an agent responsible for Q fever. Viral pathogens include vaccinia—a poxvirus, and herpes simplex virus—a virus that...
Cytoplasm01:24

Cytoplasm

The cytoplasm consists of organelles and a framework of protein scaffolds called the cytoskeleton suspended in an aqueous solution, the cytosol. The cytosol is a rich broth of water, ions, salts, and various organic molecules.
Protein Folding and Misfolding
The cytoplasm is the location for several cellular processes, including protein synthesis and folding. The aqueous nature of the cytosol promotes protein folding such that the hydrophobic amino acid side chains are buried in the protein...
Cytoplasm01:16

Cytoplasm

The cytoplasm consists of organelles and a framework of protein scaffolds called the cytoskeleton suspended in an aqueous solution, the cytosol. The cytosol is a rich broth of water, ions, salts, and various organic molecules.Protein Folding and MisfoldingThe cytoplasm is the location for several cellular processes, including protein synthesis and folding. The aqueous nature of the cytosol promotes protein folding such that the hydrophobic amino acid side chains are buried in the protein core...

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Related Experiment Video

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Three-dimensional Imaging of Bacterial Cells for Accurate Cellular Representations and Precise Protein Localization
06:33

Three-dimensional Imaging of Bacterial Cells for Accurate Cellular Representations and Precise Protein Localization

Published on: October 29, 2019

The bacterial cytoskeleton.

Matthew T Cabeen1, Christine Jacobs-Wagner

  • 1Department of Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut 06520, USA.

Annual Review of Genetics
|November 5, 2010
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Bacteria utilize cytoskeletal elements for essential functions like cell division and motility. These bacterial cytoskeletons show diverse sequences and functions, unlike their conserved eukaryotic counterparts.

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Three-dimensional Imaging of Bacterial Cells for Accurate Cellular Representations and Precise Protein Localization
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Published on: October 29, 2019

Fission Yeast as a Platform for Antibacterial Drug Screens Targeting Bacterial Cytoskeleton Proteins
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Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Cell Biology

Background:

  • Eukaryotic cells utilize cytoskeletal elements for fundamental processes such as cell division, morphogenesis, and motility.
  • Bacteria also possess cytoskeletal proteins that are counterparts to eukaryotic actin, tubulin, and intermediate filaments, alongside unique bacterial cytoskeletal systems.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To explore the functional diversity and evolutionary conservation of bacterial cytoskeletal elements.
  • To highlight the adaptability of core cytoskeletal protein motifs in bacteria.

Main Methods:

  • Comparative analysis of bacterial and eukaryotic cytoskeletal protein sequences.
  • Functional characterization of diverse bacterial cytoskeletal systems.

Main Results:

  • Bacterial cytoskeletal proteins exhibit significant sequence and functional diversity across different species.
  • Unlike conserved eukaryotic proteins, bacterial counterparts display greater variability.
  • A single cytoskeletal element can perform multiple functions, and a single function can be executed by different cytoskeletal elements.

Conclusions:

  • Bacterial cytoskeletons are highly adaptable, showcasing the flexibility of conserved protein motifs.
  • The diversity in bacterial cytoskeletal elements reflects their varied roles in bacterial life cycles and environments.