What is the MreB gene?
What is the MreB gene?
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. Indeed, recent studies have found that MreB proteins polymerize to form filaments that are similar to actin microfilaments.
What does MreB stand for?
MREB
| Acronym | Definition |
|---|---|
| MREB | Mississauga Real Estate Board (Canada) |
| MREB | Munitions Reaction Evaluation Board (US Navy) |
| MREB | McMaster Research Ethics Board (McMaster University; Canada) |
| MREB | Mineral Resources & Energy Branch (Australian government) |
What is MreB in bacteria?
MreB is an actin homolog with a critical role in maintaining rod-shaped cell morphology in a wide range of bacterial species. MreB forms dynamic helical filaments around the periphery of the cell, perpendicular to the long axis (Fig. 4B).
Which function requires MreB?
The bacterial actin homologue, MreB, is required for the maintenance of a rod-shaped cell and has been shown to form spirals that traverse along the longitudinal axis of Bacillus subtilis and Escherichia coli cells.
In which bacteria would you find MreB proteins and why?
In which bacteria would you find MreB proteins and why? E. coli, because it is rod-shaped.
What function requires MreB?
Do cocci have MreB?
Phylogenetic comparisons are completely consistent with the idea that cocci are the default shape of bacterial cells that have lost the MreB cytoskeleton; MreB is almost never found in cocci.
Why do cocci not have MreB?
MreB proteins are not encoded in most genomes of cocci. Thus, the truism of this section’s title, the absence of cylindrical side-wall in cocci, may find its molecular basis in the absence of an actin-like cytoskeleton, which precludes a true elongation.
What is the function of cocci?
The coccus (plural form is cocci) bacteria are spherical and are usually found in clusters or chains. Bacilli have a large surface area that helps them take in nutrients, but they may dry out easily. Cocci do not dry out as quickly and retain water, but they absorb nutrients slowly.
What’s the best bacterial shape?
These computer simulations found that a slightly elongated straight rod, similar to a medicine capsule, was the best shape for swimming. However, many other shapes had only marginally reduced swimming efficiency, except for very elongated, straight rods.