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Conservation of dynamic localization among MinD and MinE orthologues: oscillation of Neisseria gonorrhoeae proteins in Escherichia coli
Author(s) -
RamirezArcos Sandra,
Szeto Jason,
Dillon JoAnne R.,
Margolin William
Publication year - 2002
Publication title -
molecular microbiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.857
H-Index - 247
eISSN - 1365-2958
pISSN - 0950-382X
DOI - 10.1046/j.1365-2958.2002.03168.x
Subject(s) - neisseria gonorrhoeae , biology , escherichia coli , oscillation (cell signaling) , microbiology and biotechnology , bacterial protein , bacteria , genetics , gene
Summary Min proteins are involved in the correct placement of division septa in many bacterial species. In Escherichia coli (Ec) cells, these proteins oscillate from pole to pole, ostensibly to prevent unwanted polar septation. Here, we show that Min proteins from the coccus Neisseria gonorrhoeae (Ng) also oscillate in E. coli . Green fluorescent protein (GFP) fusions to gonococcal MinD and MinE localized dynamically in different E. coli backgrounds. GFP–MinD Ng moved from pole to pole in rod‐shaped E. coli cells with a 70 ± 25 s localization cycle when MinE Ng was expressed in cis . The oscillation time of GFP–MinD Ng was reduced when wild‐type MinE Ng was replaced with MinE Ng carrying a R30D mutation, but lengthened by 15 s when activated by MinE Ec . Several mutations in the N‐terminal domain of MinD Ng , including K16Q and 4‐ and 19‐amino acid truncations, prevented oscillation; these MinD Ng mutants showed decreased or lost interaction with themselves and MinE Ng . Like MinE Ec –GFP, MinE Ng –GFP formed MinE rings and oscillated in E. coli cells when MinD Ec was expressed in cis . Finally, in round E. coli cells, GFP–MinD Ng appeared to move in a plane parallel to completed septa. This pattern of movement is predicted to be similar in gonococcal cells, which also divide in alternating perpendicular planes.