Chromosome segregation by the Escherichia coli Min system
Abstract The mechanisms underlying chromosome segregation in prokaryotes remain a subject of debate and no unifying view has yet emerged. Given that the initial disentanglement of duplicated chromosomes could be achieved by purely entropic forces, even the requirement of an active prokaryotic segreg...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Springer Nature
2013-09-01
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| Series: | Molecular Systems Biology |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/msb.2013.44 |
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| _version_ | 1849235639189372928 |
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| author | Barbara Di Ventura Benoît Knecht Helena Andreas William J Godinez Miriam Fritsche Karl Rohr Walter Nickel Dieter W Heermann Victor Sourjik |
| author_facet | Barbara Di Ventura Benoît Knecht Helena Andreas William J Godinez Miriam Fritsche Karl Rohr Walter Nickel Dieter W Heermann Victor Sourjik |
| author_sort | Barbara Di Ventura |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract The mechanisms underlying chromosome segregation in prokaryotes remain a subject of debate and no unifying view has yet emerged. Given that the initial disentanglement of duplicated chromosomes could be achieved by purely entropic forces, even the requirement of an active prokaryotic segregation machinery has been questioned. Using computer simulations, we show that entropic forces alone are not sufficient to achieve and maintain full separation of chromosomes. This is, however, possible by assuming repeated binding of chromosomes along a gradient of membrane‐associated tethering sites toward the poles. We propose that, in Escherichia coli, such a gradient of membrane tethering sites may be provided by the oscillatory Min system, otherwise known for its role in selecting the cell division site. Consistent with this hypothesis, we demonstrate that MinD binds to DNA and tethers it to the membrane in an ATP‐dependent manner. Taken together, our combined theoretical and experimental results suggest the existence of a novel mechanism of chromosome segregation based on the Min system, further highlighting the importance of active segregation of chromosomes in prokaryotic cell biology. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-ba0759c53c7c4953a054b5ae1e63b6ee |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1744-4292 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2013-09-01 |
| publisher | Springer Nature |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Molecular Systems Biology |
| spelling | doaj-art-ba0759c53c7c4953a054b5ae1e63b6ee2025-08-20T04:02:44ZengSpringer NatureMolecular Systems Biology1744-42922013-09-019111210.1038/msb.2013.44Chromosome segregation by the Escherichia coli Min systemBarbara Di Ventura0Benoît Knecht1Helena Andreas2William J Godinez3Miriam Fritsche4Karl Rohr5Walter Nickel6Dieter W Heermann7Victor Sourjik8Zentrum für Molekulare Biologie der Universität Heidelberg, DKFZ‐ZMBH AllianceInstitute for Theoretical Physics, University of HeidelbergHeidelberg University Biochemistry Center, University of HeidelbergDepartment of Bioinformatics and Functional Genomics, Biomedical Computer Vision Group, Institute for Pharmacy and Molecular Biotechnology (IPMB), BioQuant and DKFZ, University of HeidelbergInstitute for Theoretical Physics, University of HeidelbergDepartment of Bioinformatics and Functional Genomics, Biomedical Computer Vision Group, Institute for Pharmacy and Molecular Biotechnology (IPMB), BioQuant and DKFZ, University of HeidelbergHeidelberg University Biochemistry Center, University of HeidelbergInstitute for Theoretical Physics, University of HeidelbergZentrum für Molekulare Biologie der Universität Heidelberg, DKFZ‐ZMBH AllianceAbstract The mechanisms underlying chromosome segregation in prokaryotes remain a subject of debate and no unifying view has yet emerged. Given that the initial disentanglement of duplicated chromosomes could be achieved by purely entropic forces, even the requirement of an active prokaryotic segregation machinery has been questioned. Using computer simulations, we show that entropic forces alone are not sufficient to achieve and maintain full separation of chromosomes. This is, however, possible by assuming repeated binding of chromosomes along a gradient of membrane‐associated tethering sites toward the poles. We propose that, in Escherichia coli, such a gradient of membrane tethering sites may be provided by the oscillatory Min system, otherwise known for its role in selecting the cell division site. Consistent with this hypothesis, we demonstrate that MinD binds to DNA and tethers it to the membrane in an ATP‐dependent manner. Taken together, our combined theoretical and experimental results suggest the existence of a novel mechanism of chromosome segregation based on the Min system, further highlighting the importance of active segregation of chromosomes in prokaryotic cell biology.https://doi.org/10.1038/msb.2013.44computer simulationschromosome segregationDNA bindingMinDMin system |
| spellingShingle | Barbara Di Ventura Benoît Knecht Helena Andreas William J Godinez Miriam Fritsche Karl Rohr Walter Nickel Dieter W Heermann Victor Sourjik Chromosome segregation by the Escherichia coli Min system Molecular Systems Biology computer simulations chromosome segregation DNA binding MinD Min system |
| title | Chromosome segregation by the Escherichia coli Min system |
| title_full | Chromosome segregation by the Escherichia coli Min system |
| title_fullStr | Chromosome segregation by the Escherichia coli Min system |
| title_full_unstemmed | Chromosome segregation by the Escherichia coli Min system |
| title_short | Chromosome segregation by the Escherichia coli Min system |
| title_sort | chromosome segregation by the escherichia coli min system |
| topic | computer simulations chromosome segregation DNA binding MinD Min system |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/msb.2013.44 |
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