Construction of intracellular asymmetry and asymmetric division in Escherichia coli
Journal
Nature Communications
Journal Volume
12
Journal Issue
1
Date Issued
2021
Author(s)
Lin, Da-Wei
Liu, Yang
Lee, Yue-Qi
Yang, Po-Jiun
Ho, Chia-Tse
Hong, Jui-Chung
Hsiao, Jye-Chian
Liao, Der-Chien
Liang, An-Jou
Hung, Tzu-Chiao
Chen, Yu-Chuan
Tu, Hsiung-Lin
Hsu, Chao-Ping
Abstract
The design principle of establishing an intracellular protein gradient for asymmetric cell division is a long-standing fundamental question. While the major molecular players and their interactions have been elucidated via genetic approaches, the diversity and redundancy of natural systems complicate the extraction of critical underlying features. Here, we take a synthetic cell biology approach to construct intracellular asymmetry and asymmetric division in Escherichia coli, in which division is normally symmetric. We demonstrate that the oligomeric PopZ from Caulobacter crescentus can serve as a robust polarized scaffold to functionalize RNA polymerase. Furthermore, by using another oligomeric pole-targeting DivIVA from Bacillus subtilis, the newly synthesized protein can be constrained to further establish intracellular asymmetry, leading to asymmetric division and differentiation. Our findings suggest that the coupled oligomerization and restriction in diffusion may be a strategy for generating a spatial gradient for asymmetric cell division. ? 2021, The Author(s).
Subjects
ampicillin; chloramphenicol; oligomer; RNA polymerase; bacterial protein; cell cycle protein; chromosome partition proteins, bacterial; DivIVA protein, bacteria; biology; cell component; coliform bacterium; differentiation; enzyme; enzyme activity; genetic analysis; microbial activity; protein; Article; asymmetric cell division; Bacillus subtilis; bacterial cell; bacterial genetics; Caulobacter vibrioides; cell differentiation; controlled study; cytology; diffusion; Escherichia coli; gene construct; nonhuman; protein synthesis; cell polarity; cytology; Escherichia coli; gene expression regulation; genetics; intracellular space; metabolism; Bacillus subtilis; Caulobacter vibrioides; Escherichia coli; Asymmetric Cell Division; Bacillus subtilis; Bacterial Proteins; Caulobacter crescentus; Cell Cycle Proteins; Cell Differentiation; Cell Polarity; Escherichia coli; Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial; Intracellular Space
Type
journal article