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Asymmetric division and differential gene expression during a bacterial developmental program requires DivIVA
Prahathees Eswaramoorthy1, Peter W Winter2, Peter Wawrzusin2
1Laboratory of Molecular Biology, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, United States of America.
Plos Genetics
|August 8, 2014
Summary
The bacterial protein DivIVA is essential for asymmetric cell division during Bacillus subtilis sporulation. It helps anchor the SpoIIE protein, ensuring proper activation of the transcription factor σF in the smaller cell.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Cell Biology
- Developmental Biology
Background:
- Bacillus subtilis sporulation is a complex developmental process.
- Asymmetric cell division initiates sporulation, creating two distinct cell types.
- Compartment-specific transcription factor activation (σF) is crucial for spore formation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of the structural protein DivIVA in Bacillus subtilis sporulation.
- To determine DivIVA's involvement in asymmetric division and σF activation.
- To elucidate the interaction between DivIVA and the SpoIIE protein during sporulation.
Main Methods:
- Localization studies of DivIVA at the polar septum.
- Copurification assays to assess DivIVA-SpoIIE interaction.
- Super-resolution microscopy to visualize protein localization dynamics.
Main Results:
- DivIVA localizes to the polar septum during sporulation.
- DivIVA is required for asymmetric division and σF activation.
- DivIVA interacts with SpoIIE, potentially anchoring it to the septum.
- DivIVA and SpoIIE show biased localization towards the σF-activated compartment.
Conclusions:
- DivIVA plays a critical role in orchestrating asymmetric cell division and transcription factor activation during sporulation.
- The DivIVA-SpoIIE interaction is vital for spatial regulation of developmental pathways in Bacillus subtilis.
- DivIVA's localization dynamics contribute to the fidelity of spore differentiation.
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