MreB

Prokaryotic MreB (PDB code: 1jce) in cartoon representation. The fold of the protein is similar to its eukaryotic counterpart actin.

MreB is a protein found in bacteria that has been identified as a homologue of actin, as indicated by similarities in tertiary structure and conservation of active site peptide sequence. The conservation of protein structure suggests the common ancestry of the cytoskeletal elements formed by actin, found in eukaryotes, and MreB, found in prokaryotes^{[citation needed]}. Indeed, recent studies have found that MreB proteins polymerize to form filaments that are similar to actin microfilaments.

Function

MreB controls the width of rod-shaped bacteria, such as Escherichia coli. A mutant E. coli that creates defective MreB proteins will be spherical instead of rod-like. Also, bacteria that are naturally spherical do not have the gene encoding MreB. Prokaryotes carrying the mreB gene can also be helical in shape. MreB has long been thought to form a helical filament underneath the cytoplasmic membrane, however, this model has been brought into question by three recent publications showing that filaments cannot be seen by electron cryotomography and that GFP-MreB can be seen as patches moving around the cell circumference. It has been shown to interact with several proteins that are proven to be involved in length growth (for instance PBP2). Therefore, it probably directs the synthesis and insertion of new peptidoglycan building units into the existing peptidoglycan layer to allow length growth of the bacteria.

Sources

• Erickson H (2001). "Cytoskeleton. Evolution in bacteria". Nature 413 (6851): 30. doi:10.1038/35092655. PMID 11544510.  - source of information added to this entry as of February 20, 2006

• Swulius et al (2011). Long helical filaments are not seen encircling cells in electron cryotomograms of rod-shaped bacteria. 407. pp. 650–5. doi:10.1016/j.bbrc.2011.03.062. PMID 21419100. 

• Dominguez-Escobar et al (2011). Processive movement of MreB-associated cell wall biosynthetic complexes in bacteria. 333 (6039). pp. 225–8. doi:10.1126/science.1203466. PMID 21636744. 

• Garner et al (2011). Coupled, circumferential motions of the cell wall synthesis machinery and MreB filaments in B. subtilis. 333 (6039). pp. 222–5. doi:10.1126/science.1203285. PMID 21636745.