Which cytoskeletal protein is responsible for maintaining rod shape in bacteria?
Cell shape maintenance in prokaryotes relies on cytoskeletal elements directing wall synthesis. Rod shape requires lateral peptidoglycan insertion along sidewall producing cylinder with hemispherical poles. MreB is bacterial actin homolog sharing actin fold ATP binding pocket polymerizes into short double filaments moving circumferentially around cell coordinated with cell wall synthesis enzymes. MreB associates with MreC MreD transmembrane proteins and RodZ linking to RodA SEDS transglycosylase and PBP2 transpeptidase elongasome complex synthesizing hoop like glycans inserting along length. D
Ref: Cabeen & Jacobs-Wagner, Annu Rev Genetics, 2010, Bacterial cytoskeleton: MreB maintains rod shape.