Chemosensory systems are signaling pathways elegantly organized in hexagonal arrays that confer unique functional features to these systems such as signal amplification. Chemosensory arrays adopt different subcellular localizations from one bacterial species to another, yet keeping their supramolecular organization unmodified. In the gliding bacterium Myxococcus xanthus, a cytoplasmic chemosensory system, Frz, forms multiple clusters on the nucleoid through the direct binding of the FrzCD receptor to DNA. A small CheW-like protein, FrzB, might be responsible for the formation of multiple (instead of just one) Frz arrays. In this review, we summarize what is known on Frz array formation on the bacterial chromosome and discuss hypotheses on how FrzB might contribute to the nucleation of multiple clusters. Finally, we will propose some possible biological explanations for this type of localization pattern.
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Cover Image
Cover Image
The cover shows a metaphorical representation of the anti-CRISPR AcrIIA6, represented as handcuffs, sequestering two Streptococcus thermophilus CRISPR1-Cas9 (St1Cas9) molecules at a time and preventing conformational changes associated with DNA recognition and binding. In the absence of AcrIIA6, St1Cas9 tightly binds to its target DNA, and can proceed to target cleavage. For further information, see the article by Hardouin and Goulet in this issue (pp. 507–516). This cover artwork has been made by Beata Edyta Mierzwa (www.BeataScienceArt.com).
How an unusual chemosensory system forms arrays on the bacterial nucleoid
Emilia M.F. Mauriello; How an unusual chemosensory system forms arrays on the bacterial nucleoid. Biochem Soc Trans 29 April 2020; 48 (2): 347–356. doi: https://doi.org/10.1042/BST20180450
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