Growth of curved and helical bacterial cells

摘要: A combination of cell wall growth and cytoskeletal protein action gives rise to the observed bacterial shape. Aside from common rod-like spherical shapes, cells can also adopt curved or helical geometries. To understand how curvature in bacteria is developed maintained, we examine Caulobacter crescentus obtains its crescent-like with without bundle crescentin, an intermediate filament-like protein, exhibit two distinct modes, maintenance that preserves radius relaxation straightens (Fig. 1). Using a proposed mechanochemical model, show bending twisting crescentin influence stress distribution wall, lead cells. In contrast, after disrupted, originally will slowly relax towards straight rod over time. The model able quantitatively capture experimentally dynamics. Furthermore, shape anisotropy cross-section never greater than 4%, even presence crescentin.