The divergent early divisome: is there a functional core?

Trends Microbiol. 2023 Sep 21:S0966-842X(23)00254-8. doi: 10.1016/j.tim.2023.08.010. Online ahead of print.ABSTRACTThe bacterial divisome is a complex nanomachine that drives cell division and separation. The essentiality of these processes leads to the assumption that proteins with core roles will be strictly conserved across all bacterial genomes. However, recent studies in diverse proteobacteria have revealed considerable variation in the early divisome compared with Escherichia coli. While some proteins are highly conserved, their specific functions and interacting partners vary. Meanwhile, different subphyla use clade-specific proteins with analogous functions. Thus, instead of focusing on gene conservation, we must also explore how key functions are maintained during early division by diverging protein networks. An enhanced awareness of these complex genetic networks will clarify the physical and evolutionary constraints of bacterial division.PMID:37741788 | DOI:10.1016/j.tim.2023.08.010

Source: Trends in Microbiology - September 23, 2023 Category: Microbiology Authors: Gustavo Santiago-Collazo Pamela J B Brown Amelia M Randich Source Type: research