Dysfunctional MreB inhibits chromosome segregation in Escherichia coli

Research output: Contribution to journalJournal articlepeer-review

The mechanism of prokaryotic chromosome segregation is not known. MreB, an actin homolog, is a shape-determining factor in rod-shaped prokaryotic cells. Using immunofluorescence microscopy we found that MreB of Escherichia coli formed helical filaments located beneath the cell surface. Flow cytometric and cytological analyses indicated that MreB-depleted cells segregated their chromosomes in pairs, consistent with chromosome cohesion. Overexpression of wild-type MreB inhibited cell division but did not perturb chromosome segregation. Overexpression of mutant forms of MreB inhibited cell division, caused abnormal MreB filament morphology and induced severe localization defects of the nucleoid and of the oriC and terC chromosomal regions. The chromosomal terminus regions appeared cohered in both MreB-depleted cells and in cells overexpressing mutant forms of MreB. Our observations indicate that MreB filaments participate in directional chromosome movement and segregation.

Original languageEnglish
JournalE M B O Journal
Volume22
Issue number19
Pages (from-to)5283-5292
Number of pages10
ISSN0261-4189
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2003
Externally publishedYes

    Research areas

  • Amino Acid Sequence, Chromosome Segregation/physiology, DNA-Binding Proteins/metabolism, Escherichia coli/metabolism, Escherichia coli Proteins/genetics, Molecular Sequence Data, Mutation, Origin Recognition Complex, RNA/metabolism, Telomerase/metabolism, Viral Proteins/metabolism

ID: 200972073