Toward Spatially Regulated Division of Protocells: Insights into the E. coli Min System from in Vitro Studies

Life

Simon Kretschmer²  Petra Schwille¹  Pasquale Stano² 

[1] Department of Cellular and Molecular Biophysics, Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry, Am Klopferspitz 18, Martinsried 82152, Germany; E-Mail

关键词: protocell;    bottom-up synthetic biology;    cell division;    Min proteins;    membranes;    self-organization;    pattern formation;   

DOI  :  10.3390/life4040915

来源: mdpi

【 摘 要 】

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.

【 授权许可】

CC BY   
© 2014 by the authors; licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.