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#cytoskeletal proteins

2 public questions tagged with this topic.

Microbial Physiology

The cytoskeletal protein MamK is involved in:

Magnetotactic bacteria such as Magnetospirillum magneticum AMB-1 and gryphiswaldense biomineralize magnetic nanoparticles within lipid vesicles called magnetosomes to navigate chemical gradients in stratified water columns. Cytoskeletal protein MamK actin homolog is essential for organizing magnetosomes into linear chain maximizing dipole moment for efficient orientation. MamK polymerizes ATP dependently into filaments extending along cell long axis, forms scaffold similar MreB but dedicated. Adaptor protein MamJ interacts with magnetosome membrane proteins MamY and MamK linking vesicles to fi

Ref: Komeili et al., PNAS 2006, MamK involved in magnetosome positioning chain assembly.

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Microbial Physiology

The function of Crescentin in Caulobacter species is:

Caulobacter crescentus aquatic oligotrophic bacterium displays crescent curved morphology enhancing nutrient uptake and surface attachment under flow conditions in streams. Curvature determinant is Crescentin protein encoded creS gene, structural homolog intermediate filaments eukaryotic like vimentin despite no sequence homology but coiled coil oligomerization forming filaments. Crescentin filaments localize to inner concave side of cell attached to membrane via scaffold proteins, forming elastic structure imposing mechanical constraint on peptidoglycan growth. Model suggests filament reduces

Ref: Ausmees et al., Cell 2003, Crescentin mediates curved cell shape in Caulobacter.

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