× Didn't find what you were looking for? Ask a question
Top Posters
Since Sunday
d
4
N
3
3
R
3
k
3
o
3
Z
3
j
3
s
3
d
3
J
3
1
3
New Topic  
iScience iScience
wrote...
Posts: 78
Rep: 0 0
10 years ago Edited: 10 years ago, iScience
i'm in microbio and we're learning about the binary fission of bacilli and that the MinCDE system accumulates at the poles.

Q:

1.) when MinD starts attaching to the membrane, does it attach everywhere and then gets stripped off by the MinE except at the poles or does MinD attach more towards the poles, if it's the latter, what makes the MinD do so? ie what guides the MinD to do so?

2.) What property of the poles that makes MinE strip off the MinD except at the poles? if this property is locallized to the poles, how does this property remain for cocci binary fission? ie, there are no "poles" for cocci right? so then how does the MinCDE system know where to attach, strip, and etc.. ?

3.) is the MinCDE system model observed (or backed up by much evidence) or is it just a proposed model based on.. very little evidence?

thanks
Post Merge: 10 years ago

also when MinE detaches the MinCD complex, does the MinE ring sweep across the entire cell membrane from pole to pole or does it just go back and forth in the localized regions at the pole?
Read 631 times
3 Replies

Related Topics

Replies
wrote...
Staff Member
Educator
10 years ago
HI

You learn something new each day, because I've never have I heard of this. BUT, according to research, this idea came in 2003? Anway, I found this stuff written in Wiki Downwards Arrow Could be of some assistance without looking into it in detail.

The MinCDE system is a filament system that properly positions the septum in the middle of the cell in Escherichia coli. According to Shih et al., MinC inhibits the formation of the septum by prohibiting the polymerization of the Z-ring. MinC, MinD, and MinE form a helix structure that winds around the cell and is bound to the membrane by MinD. The MinCDE helix occupies a pole and terminates in a filamentous structure called the E-ring made of MinE at the middle-most edge of the polar zone. From this configuration, the E-ring will contract and move toward that pole, disassembling the MinCDE helix as it moves along. Concomitantly, the disassembled fragments will reassemble at the opposite polar end, reforming the MinCDE coil on the opposite pole while the current MinCDE helix is broken down. This process then repeats, with the MinCDE helix oscillating from pole to pole. This oscillation occurs repeatedly during the cell cycle, thereby keeping MinC (and its septum inhibiting effect) at a lower time-averaged concentration at the middle of the cell than at the ends of the cell.

The dynamic behavior of the Min proteins has been reconstituted in vitro using an artificial lipid bilayer as mimic for the cell membrane. MinE and MinD self-organized into parallel and spiral protein waves by a reaction-diffusion like mechanism.
Source  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prokaryotic_cytoskeleton#MinCDE_system
Mastering in Nutritional Biology
Tralalalala Slight Smile
iScience Author
wrote...
10 years ago
i'm actually asking about the material on wiki, lol. because in class we didn't go into any appriciable amount of detail
wrote...
Staff Member
Educator
10 years ago
HI iScience

I'm guessing you're only asking this then for interest sake. This is the first time studying this.

MinC inhibits the formation of the septum by prohibiting the polymerization of the Z-ring. MinC, MinD, and MinE form a helix structure that winds around the cell and is bound to the membrane by MinD. The MinCDE helix occupies a pole and terminates in a filamentous structure called the E-ring made of MinE at the middle-most edge of the polar zone. From this configuration, the E-ring will contract and move toward that pole, disassembling the MinCDE helix as it moves along. Concomitantly, the disassembled fragments will reassemble at the opposite polar end, reforming the MinCDE coil on the opposite pole while the current MinCDE helix is broken down. This process then repeats, with the MinCDE helix oscillating from pole to pole. This oscillation occurs repeatedly during the cell cycle, thereby keeping MinC (and its septum inhibiting effect) at a lower time-averaged concentration at the middle of the cell than at the ends of the cell.

This part is really interesting, try drawing out what's happening here and things will become more clear, that's really the only advice I can possibly give Confounded Face Let me know what you end up finding out, since others might find it helpful too
Mastering in Nutritional Biology
Tralalalala Slight Smile
New Topic      
Explore
Post your homework questions and get free online help from our incredible volunteers
  1399 People Browsing
Related Images
  
 3326
  
 6133
  
 554
Your Opinion
Do you believe in global warming?
Votes: 488

Previous poll results: What's your favorite coffee beverage?