Cell shape

Parent categories	1. Cellular processes 1.1. Cell wall and cell division
Neighbouring categories	1.1.1. Cell wall synthesis 1.1.2. Cell shape 1.1.3. Cell wall degradation/ turnover 1.1.4. Capsule biosynthesis and degradation 1.1.5. Cell wall/ other 1.1.6. Membrane dynamics 1.1.7. Cell division
Related categories	Cell wall synthesis penicillin-binding proteins Cell wall biosynthetic complex Cell wall synthesis in SubtiPathways
Overview on the categories (Excel file) All genes and their categories (Excel file)

Cell shape determination is intimately linked to cell wall synthesis. The proteins involved in both functions interact in the cell wall biosynthetic complex.

Genes in this functional category

• dynA
• mbl
• mreB
• mreBH
• mreC
• mreD
• rodA
• rodZ
• yvcK

Important Original Publications

Siyuan Wang, Leon Furchtgott, Kerwyn Casey Huang, Joshua W Shaevitz
Helical insertion of peptidoglycan produces chiral ordering of the bacterial cell wall.
Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.: 2012, 109(10);E595-604
[PubMed:22343529] [WorldCat.org] [DOI] (I p)

Ethan C Garner, Remi Bernard, Wenqin Wang, Xiaowei Zhuang, David Z Rudner, Tim Mitchison
Coupled, circumferential motions of the cell wall synthesis machinery and MreB filaments in B. subtilis.
Science: 2011, 333(6039);222-5
[PubMed:21636745] [WorldCat.org] [DOI] (I p)

Julia Domínguez-Escobar, Arnaud Chastanet, Alvaro H Crevenna, Vincent Fromion, Roland Wedlich-Söldner, Rut Carballido-López
Processive movement of MreB-associated cell wall biosynthetic complexes in bacteria.
Science: 2011, 333(6039);225-8
[PubMed:21636744] [WorldCat.org] [DOI] (I p)

Important Reviews

Additional reviews: PubMed

Arnaud Chastanet, Rut Carballido-Lopez
The actin-like MreB proteins in Bacillus subtilis: a new turn.
Front Biosci (Schol Ed): 2012, 4;1582-606
[PubMed:22652894] [WorldCat.org] (I e)

Sven van Teeffelen, Zemer Gitai
Rotate into shape: MreB and bacterial morphogenesis.
EMBO J.: 2011, 30(24);4856-7
[PubMed:22166997] [WorldCat.org] [DOI] (I e)

Michael Ingerson-Mahar, Zemer Gitai
A growing family: the expanding universe of the bacterial cytoskeleton.
FEMS Microbiol. Rev.: 2012, 36(1);256-66
[PubMed:22092065] [WorldCat.org] [DOI] (I p)

Rachael M Barry, Zemer Gitai
Self-assembling enzymes and the origins of the cytoskeleton.
Curr. Opin. Microbiol.: 2011, 14(6);704-11
[PubMed:22014508] [WorldCat.org] [DOI] (I p)

Matthew T Cabeen, Christine Jacobs-Wagner
The bacterial cytoskeleton.
Annu. Rev. Genet.: 2010, 44;365-92
[PubMed:21047262] [WorldCat.org] [DOI] (I p)

Kevin D Young
Bacterial shape: two-dimensional questions and possibilities.
Annu. Rev. Microbiol.: 2010, 64;223-40
[PubMed:20825347] [WorldCat.org] [DOI] (I p)

Rut Carballido-López, Alex Formstone
Shape determination in Bacillus subtilis.
Curr. Opin. Microbiol.: 2007, 10(6);611-6
[PubMed:17981078] [WorldCat.org] [DOI] (P p)

George C Stewart
Taking shape: control of bacterial cell wall biosynthesis.
Mol. Microbiol.: 2005, 57(5);1177-81
[PubMed:16101993] [WorldCat.org] [DOI] (P p)

Jakob Møller-Jensen, Jan Löwe
Increasing complexity of the bacterial cytoskeleton.
Curr. Opin. Cell Biol.: 2005, 17(1);75-81
[PubMed:15661522] [WorldCat.org] [DOI] (P p)

Kevin D Young
Bacterial shape.
Mol. Microbiol.: 2003, 49(3);571-80
[PubMed:12914007] [WorldCat.org] (P p)

Lucy Shapiro, Harley H McAdams, Richard Losick
Generating and exploiting polarity in bacteria.
Science: 2002, 298(5600);1942-6
[PubMed:12471245] [WorldCat.org] [DOI] (I p)