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Xanthomonas citri MinC Oscillates from Pole to Pole to Ensure Proper Cell Division and Shape

André S G Lorenzoni1, Giordanni C Dantas2, Tessa Bergsma1

  • 1Department of Molecular Microbiology, Groningen Biomolecular Sciences and Biotechnology Institute, University of GroningenGroningen, Netherlands.

Frontiers in Microbiology
|August 4, 2017
PubMed

Insights

The MinC protein is crucial for cell division in Xanthomonas citri, the citrus canker pathogen. Deleting its gene causes abnormal cell shapes and division, impacting bacterial growth.

Area of Science:

  • Bacteriology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Plant Pathology

Background:

  • Citrus canker, caused by Xanthomonas citri (Xac), poses a significant economic threat to citrus crops globally.
  • Understanding bacterial cell division is essential for developing effective disease control strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the role of the MinC protein in Xac cell division, chromosome segregation, and peptidoglycan incorporation.
  • To characterize the phenotypic consequences of minC deletion in Xac.

Main Methods:

  • Gene deletion of minC using allele exchange in Xac.
  • Complementation of the minC deletion mutant by integrating gfp-minC.
  • Microscopic analysis of cell morphology, nucleoid organization, and divisome formation.

Main Results:

  • Xac lacking minC exhibited minicells, short filamentation, and branching, a phenotype dependent on growth medium.
  • Complemented strains restored a wild-type phenotype, and GFP-MinC showed pole-to-pole oscillations.
  • Branching cells displayed disrupted nucleoid organization, divisome formation, and peptidoglycan incorporation.

Conclusions:

  • MinC plays a critical role in regulating Xac cell division and morphology.
  • The observed branching phenotype is linked to disruptions in fundamental cellular processes and may be influenced by nutrient availability.
Keywords:
FtsZMinCParBXanthomonas citriZapAcitrus cankerpeptidoglycan

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