How Min oscillations drive polar localisation of an outer membrane protein in E. coli ? - Nicolas Desprat (LPENS, Paris)

Protein localisation is essential for a wide range of biological functions. Understanding how certain proteins escape the pure laws of diffusion and do not distribute themselves homogeneously within cells is a central question in living systems. We report here that polar localisation of Ag43, an outer membrane adhesion protein, undergoes biased diffusion in the periplasm of E. Coli thanks to the oscillations of Min proteins in the cytoplasm. This discovery could reveal a new paradigm for the coupling of protein localisation across two distinct cellular compartments separated by a membrane.

Contact: Natale Scaramozzino