Toward Spatially Regulated Division of Protocells: Insights into the E. coli Min System from in Vitro Studies
For reconstruction of controlled cell division in a minimal cell model, or protocell, a positioning mechanism that spatially regulates division is indispensable. In Escherichia coli, the Min proteins oscillate from pole to pole to determine the division site by inhibition of the primary divisome pro...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2014-12-01
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| Series: | Life |
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| Online Access: | http://www.mdpi.com/2075-1729/4/4/915 |
| _version_ | 1811278781792387072 |
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| author | Simon Kretschmer Petra Schwille |
| author_facet | Simon Kretschmer Petra Schwille |
| author_sort | Simon Kretschmer |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | For reconstruction of controlled cell division in a minimal cell model, or protocell, a positioning mechanism that spatially regulates division is indispensable. In Escherichia coli, the Min proteins oscillate from pole to pole to determine the division site by inhibition of the primary divisome protein FtsZ anywhere but in the cell middle. Remarkably, when reconstituted under defined conditions in vitro, the Min proteins self-organize into spatiotemporal patterns in the presence of a lipid membrane and ATP. We review recent progress made in studying the Min system in vitro, particularly focusing on the effects of various physicochemical parameters and boundary conditions on pattern formation. Furthermore, we discuss implications and challenges for utilizing the Min system for division site placement in protocells. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-13T00:41:59Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-4a3f5f18e5d342efb805d274ff4778a1 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2075-1729 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-13T00:41:59Z |
| publishDate | 2014-12-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Life |
| spelling | doaj.art-4a3f5f18e5d342efb805d274ff4778a12022-12-22T03:10:07ZengMDPI AGLife2075-17292014-12-014491592810.3390/life4040915life4040915Toward Spatially Regulated Division of Protocells: Insights into the E. coli Min System from in Vitro StudiesSimon Kretschmer0Petra Schwille1Department of Cellular and Molecular Biophysics, Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry, Am Klopferspitz 18, Martinsried 82152, GermanyDepartment of Cellular and Molecular Biophysics, Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry, Am Klopferspitz 18, Martinsried 82152, GermanyFor reconstruction of controlled cell division in a minimal cell model, or protocell, a positioning mechanism that spatially regulates division is indispensable. In Escherichia coli, the Min proteins oscillate from pole to pole to determine the division site by inhibition of the primary divisome protein FtsZ anywhere but in the cell middle. Remarkably, when reconstituted under defined conditions in vitro, the Min proteins self-organize into spatiotemporal patterns in the presence of a lipid membrane and ATP. We review recent progress made in studying the Min system in vitro, particularly focusing on the effects of various physicochemical parameters and boundary conditions on pattern formation. Furthermore, we discuss implications and challenges for utilizing the Min system for division site placement in protocells.http://www.mdpi.com/2075-1729/4/4/915protocellbottom-up synthetic biologycell divisionMin proteinsmembranesself-organizationpattern formation |
| spellingShingle | Simon Kretschmer Petra Schwille Toward Spatially Regulated Division of Protocells: Insights into the E. coli Min System from in Vitro Studies Life protocell bottom-up synthetic biology cell division Min proteins membranes self-organization pattern formation |
| title | Toward Spatially Regulated Division of Protocells: Insights into the E. coli Min System from in Vitro Studies |
| title_full | Toward Spatially Regulated Division of Protocells: Insights into the E. coli Min System from in Vitro Studies |
| title_fullStr | Toward Spatially Regulated Division of Protocells: Insights into the E. coli Min System from in Vitro Studies |
| title_full_unstemmed | Toward Spatially Regulated Division of Protocells: Insights into the E. coli Min System from in Vitro Studies |
| title_short | Toward Spatially Regulated Division of Protocells: Insights into the E. coli Min System from in Vitro Studies |
| title_sort | toward spatially regulated division of protocells insights into the e coli min system from in vitro studies |
| topic | protocell bottom-up synthetic biology cell division Min proteins membranes self-organization pattern formation |
| url | http://www.mdpi.com/2075-1729/4/4/915 |
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