TY - JOUR
T1 - Morphological and functional asymmetry in alpha-proteobacteria
AU - Hallez, Régis
AU - Bellefontaine, Anne-Flore
AU - Letesson, Jean-Jacques
AU - De Bolle, Xavier
PY - 2004
Y1 - 2004
N2 - The release of an increasing number of complete bacterial genomic sequences allows the evolutionary analysis of processes such as regulatory networks. CtrA is a response regulator of the OmpR subfamily, belonging to a complex regulatory network in the dimorphic bacterium Caulobacter crescentus. It coordinates the cell cycle with an asymmetric division, which is part of the adaptation of Caulobacter to poor-nutrient environments. CtrA is only found in alpha-proteobacteria, a group of bacteria encompassing genera with very distinct lifestyles, including host-associated bacteria. Analyses of CtrA regulatory networks and morphological examinations of some alpha-proteobacteria are presented. Our observations suggest that the core of the CtrA regulation network is conserved and that alpha-proteobacteria divide asymmetrically. We propose that the two daughter cells might be differentiated bacteria, each one displaying specific functions.
AB - The release of an increasing number of complete bacterial genomic sequences allows the evolutionary analysis of processes such as regulatory networks. CtrA is a response regulator of the OmpR subfamily, belonging to a complex regulatory network in the dimorphic bacterium Caulobacter crescentus. It coordinates the cell cycle with an asymmetric division, which is part of the adaptation of Caulobacter to poor-nutrient environments. CtrA is only found in alpha-proteobacteria, a group of bacteria encompassing genera with very distinct lifestyles, including host-associated bacteria. Analyses of CtrA regulatory networks and morphological examinations of some alpha-proteobacteria are presented. Our observations suggest that the core of the CtrA regulation network is conserved and that alpha-proteobacteria divide asymmetrically. We propose that the two daughter cells might be differentiated bacteria, each one displaying specific functions.
U2 - 10.1016/j.tim.2004.06.002
DO - 10.1016/j.tim.2004.06.002
M3 - Article
C2 - 15276611
SN - 0966-842X
VL - 12
SP - 361
EP - 365
JO - Trends in Microbiology
JF - Trends in Microbiology
IS - 8
ER -