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Membrane protein expression triggers chromosomal locus repositioning in bacteria
Elizabeth A Libby1, Manuela Roggiani, Mark Goulian
1Department of Physics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA.
Summary
Bacterial gene expression, particularly for membrane proteins, influences where genes are located within the cell. This study shows gene expression drives rapid repositioning of bacterial DNA toward the cell membrane.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Molecular Biology
- Genetics
Background:
- Subcellular positioning of bacterial chromosomal loci is hypothesized to be influenced by gene function and expression.
- Understanding these spatial arrangements is key to bacterial chromosome dynamics.
Purpose of the Study:
- To provide direct evidence that membrane protein expression affects chromosomal locus positioning in Escherichia coli.
- To investigate the mechanisms and dynamics of locus repositioning.
Main Methods:
- Induction of membrane protein expression in Escherichia coli.
- Comparison with expression of cytoplasmic proteins or non-translatable genes.
- Inhibition of transcription and translation using antibiotics.
- Tracking of genetic loci positions relative to the cell membrane.
Main Results:
- Expression of membrane proteins caused a dramatic shift of their genetic loci toward the cell membrane.
- No significant shift was observed when cytoplasmic proteins were produced or translation was blocked.
- Repositioning occurred rapidly and over considerable chromosomal distances (>90 kb).
Conclusions:
- Membrane protein expression directly influences bacterial chromosomal locus positioning.
- This repositioning mechanism is dependent on active transcription and translation.
- The expression of membrane proteins may maintain the bacterial chromosome in a dynamic, expanded state.
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