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CetZ tubulin-like proteins control archaeal cell shape
Iain G Duggin1, Christopher H S Aylett2, James C Walsh3
11] Medical Research Council Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Francis Crick Avenue, Cambridge CB2 0QH, UK [2] The ithree institute, University of Technology Sydney, New South Wales 2007, Australia.
Nature
|December 24, 2014
Summary
Archaea possess CetZ proteins, related to tubulin and FtsZ, that control cell shape and motility, not cell division. This suggests cytoskeletal roles may predate eukaryotic evolution and are crucial for microbial swimming.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Cell Biology
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Tubulin and FtsZ are key cytoskeletal proteins in eukaryotes and bacteria, respectively, with distinct functions.
- The evolutionary origins of their diverse roles remain unclear.
- Archaea, sharing traits with both eukaryotes and bacteria, offer insights into early cytoskeletal evolution.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the structure and function of CetZ proteins in Archaea, a distinct family related to tubulin and FtsZ.
- To understand the role of CetZ in archaeal cell biology, particularly in relation to cell division and shape.
Main Methods:
- X-ray crystallography to determine CetZ protein structure.
- Gene inactivation experiments in Haloferax volcanii to assess CetZ function.
- In vivo imaging of CetZ cytoskeletal structures.
Main Results:
- CetZ proteins share the FtsZ/tubulin superfamily fold.
- Inactivation of CetZ did not affect cell division in H. volcanii.
- CetZ1 is essential for differentiating plate-shaped cells into rod-shaped cells, crucial for swimming motility.
- CetZ1 forms dynamic cytoskeletal structures involved in cell envelope remodeling and rod formation.
- CetZ2 also contributes to cell shape control in H. volcanii.
Conclusions:
- The FtsZ/tubulin superfamily's functions extend to archaeal cell shape dynamics.
- A cytoskeletal role for these proteins may have predated eukaryotic cell evolution.
- Microbial rod shape is likely important for facilitating swimming motility.
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