Dislocation-mediated growth of bacterial cell walls.

ABSTRACT: Recent experiments have illuminated a remarkable growth mechanism of rod-shaped bacteria: proteins associated with cell wall extension move at constant velocity in circles oriented approximately along the cell circumference [Garner EC, et al., (2011) Science 333:222-225], [Domínguez-Escobar J, et al. (2011) Science 333:225-228], [van Teeffelen S, et al. (2011) PNAS 108:15822-15827]. We view these as dislocations in the partially ordered peptidoglycan structure, activated by glycan strand extension machinery, and study theoretically the dynamics of these interacting defects on the surface of a cylinder. Generation and motion of these interacting defects lead to surprising effects arising from the cylindrical geometry, with important implications for growth. We also discuss how long range el

SUBMITTER: Amir A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3382501 | biostudies-literature | 2012 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature