Localization of MreB in Rhodobacter sphaeroides under conditions causing changes in cell shape and membrane structure.

ABSTRACT: MreB is thought to be a bacterial actin homolog that defines the morphology of rod-shaped bacteria. Rhodobacter sphaeroides changes shape, from a rod to coccobacillus, and undergoes extensive cytoplasmic membrane invagination when it switches from aerobic to photoheterotrophic growth. The role of MreB in defining R. sphaeroides shape was therefore investigated. Attempts at deleting or insertionally inactivating mreB were unsuccessful under all growth conditions. Immunofluorescence microscopy showed MreB localized to mid-cell in elongating cells under both aerobic and photoheterotrophic conditions. Three-dimensional reconstruction showed that MreB formed a ring at mid-cell. MreB remained at mid-cell as septation began but localized to new sites in the daughter cells before the completion of

SUBMITTER: Slovak PM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC538805 | biostudies-literature | 2005 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature