Una visión del citoesqueleto bacteriano

A multi-dimensional view of the bacterial cytoskeleton.
J Bacteriol. 2013 Feb 15;
Authors: Celler K, Koning RI, Koster AJ, van Wezel GP
Abstract
The perspective of the cytoskeleton as a unique feature of eukaryotic organisms was overturned when homologs of the eukaryotic cytoskeletal elements were identified in prokaryotes, and implicated in major cell functions, including growth, morphogenesis, cell division, DNA partitioning and cell motility.

FtsZ and MreB were the first identified homologs of tubulin and actin, respectively, followed by the discovery of crescentin as intermediate filament-like protein.

In addition, new elements were identified which have no apparent eukaryotic counterparts, such as the deviant Walker A-type ATPases, bactofilins and several novel elements recently identified in streptomycetes, highlighting the unsuspected complexity of cytostructural components in bacteria. In vivo multi-dimensional fluorescence microscopy has demonstrated the dynamics of the bacterial intracellular world and yet we are only starting to understand the role of cytoskeletal elements. Elucidating structure-function relationships remains challenging, because core cytoskeletal protein motifs show remarkable plasticity, with one element often performing various functions and one function being performed by several types of elements.

Structural imaging techniques, such as cryo-electron tomography in combination with advanced light microscopy, are providing the missing links and enable scientists to answer many outstanding questions regarding prokaryotic cellular architecture.

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