Dynamic structures in Escherichia coli: Spontaneous formation of MinE rings and MinD polar zones

Kerwyn Casey Huang, Yigal Meir, Ned S. Wingreen

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

230 Scopus citations

Abstract

In Escherichia coli, division site selection is regulated in part by the Min-protein system. Oscillations of the Min proteins from pole to pole every ≈40 sec have been revealed by in vivo studies of GFP fusions. The dynamic oscillatory structures produced by the Min proteins, including a ring of MinE protein, compact polar zones of MinD, and zebra-striped oscillations in filamentous cells, remain unexplained. We show that the Min oscillations, including mutant phenotypes, can be accounted for by in vitro-observed interactions involving MinD and MinE, with a crucial role played by the rate of nucleotide exchange. Recent discoveries suggest that protein oscillations may play a general role in proper chromosome and plasmid partitioning.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)12724-12728
Number of pages5
JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
Volume100
Issue number22
DOIs
StatePublished - Oct 28 2003

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • General

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