Work

Membrane potential is important for bacterial cell division

Year: 2010

Type: article

Abstract: Many cell division-related proteins are located at specific positions in the bacterial cell, and this organized distribution of proteins requires energy. Here, we report that the proton motive force, or more specifically the (trans)membrane potential, is directly involved in protein localization. It emerged that the membrane potential modulates the distribution of several conserved cell division proteins such as MinD, FtsA, and the bacterial cytoskeletal protein MreB. We show for MinD that this is based on the membrane potential stimulated binding of its C-terminal amphipathic helix. This function of the membrane potential has implications for how these morphogenetic proteins work and provide an explanation for the effects observed with certain antimicrobial compounds.

Source: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences

DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1005485107

Authors: Henrik Strahl, Leendert W. Hamoen

Institution: Newcastle University

Language: English

Topic: Bacterial Genetics and Biotechnology

Subfield: Genetics

Field: Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology

Domain: Life Sciences

Open Access status: green

Funders: Wellcome Trust, Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Newcastle University, Rijksuniversiteit Groningen, Universität zu Köln, Robert Koch Institut, Directorate for Biological Sciences, Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council

OpenAlex ID: W2089860144

FWCI: 8.222

Cites: 42

Cited by: 580

Related to: 9