Interplay between two bacterial actin homologs, MamK and MamK-Like, is required for the alignment of magnetosome organelles in Magnetospirillum magneticum AMB-1.

ABSTRACT: Many bacterial species contain multiple actin-like proteins tasked with the execution of crucial cell biological functions. MamK, an actin-like protein found in magnetotactic bacteria, is important in organizing magnetosome organelles into chains that are used for navigation along geomagnetic fields. MamK and numerous other magnetosome formation factors are encoded by a genetic island termed the magnetosome island. Unlike most magnetotactic bacteria, Magnetospirillum magneticum AMB-1 (AMB-1) contains a second island of magnetosome-related genes that was named the magnetosome islet. A homologous copy of mamK, mamK-like, resides within this islet and encodes a protein capable of filament formation in vitro. Previous work had shown that mamK-like is expressed in vivo, but its function, if any

SUBMITTER: Abreu N 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4135654 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature