RodZ links MreB to cell wall synthesis to mediate MreB rotation and robust morphogenesis

Randy M. Morgenstein, Benjamin P. Bratton, Jeffrey P. Nguyen, Nikolay Ouzounov, Joshua William Shaevitz, Zemer Gitai

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

84 Scopus citations

Abstract

The rod shape of most bacteria requires the actin homolog, MreB. Whereas MreB was initially thought to statically define rod shape, recent studies found that MreB dynamically rotates around the cell circumference dependent on cell wall synthesis. However, the mechanism by which cytoplasmic MreB is linked to extracytoplasmic cell wall synthesis and the function of this linkage for morphogenesis has remained unclear. Here we demonstrate that the transmembrane protein RodZ mediates MreB rotation by directly or indirectly coupling MreB to cell wall synthesis enzymes. Furthermore, we map the RodZ domains that link MreB to cell wall synthesis and identify mreB mutants that suppress the shape defect of ΔrodZ without restoring rotation, uncoupling rotation from rod-like growth. Surprisingly, MreB rotation is dispensable for rodlike shape determination under standard laboratory conditions but is required for the robustness of rod shape and growth under conditions of cell wall stress.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)12510-12515
Number of pages6
JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
Volume112
Issue number40
DOIs
StatePublished - Oct 6 2015

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • General

Keywords

  • Bacterial cell shape
  • Bacterial cytoskeleton
  • Cell growth
  • Cytoskeleton dynamics
  • Robust rod shape

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