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Min Oscillation in Bacteria

  • Chapter
Cellular Oscillatory Mechanisms

Part of the book series: Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology ((AEMB,volume 641))

Abstract

Oscillation of the Min proteins is a key regulator of the division plane in many bacteria including the model organism E. coli. The coupled oscillation of these proteins between the ends of the cell restricts the formation of the Zring, an essential cytoskeletal element that serves as a scaffold for the cytokinesis machinery, to a narrow region at midcell. The oscillation was discovered following the fusion of the Min proteins to green fluorescent protein. Importantly, the Min system is readily manipulated allowing rapid advances in understanding key aspects of the oscillation. In addition, details of the biochemistry of the Min proteins have pmerged that provide the basis for their dynamic interaction with the membrane. Furthermore, the in vivo description of the oscillations along with the biochemical details of the Min proteins have provided the fuel for mathematical approaches to try and understand the critical features have underlie this oscillatory system. The simplicity and ease of manipulating the Min system make it a tractable model to obtain a complete understanding of a self-organizing system.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Microbiology, Molecular Genetics and Immunology, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS, USA

    Joe Lutkenhaus

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  1. Joe Lutkenhaus
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. College of Life Sciences, University of Dundee, Dundee, Scotland, UK

    Miguel Maroto

  2. School of Mathematical Sciences, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK

    Nicholas A. M. Monk

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Lutkenhaus, J. (2008). Min Oscillation in Bacteria. In: Maroto, M., Monk, N.A.M. (eds) Cellular Oscillatory Mechanisms. Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology, vol 641. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-387-09794-7_4

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