The tubulin superfamily of cytoskeletal proteins is widespread in all three domains of life — Archaea, Bacteria and Eukarya. Tubulins build the microtubules of the eukaryotic cytoskeleton, whereas members of the homologous FtsZ family construct the division ring in prokaryotes and some eukaryotic organelles. Their functions are relatively poorly understood in archaea, yet these microbes contain a remarkable diversity of tubulin superfamily proteins, including FtsZ for division, a newly described major family called CetZ that is involved in archaeal cell shape control, and several other divergent families of unclear function that are implicated in a variety of cell envelope-remodelling contexts. Archaeal model organisms, particularly halophilic archaea such as Haloferax volcanii, have sufficiently developed genetic tools and we show why their large, flattened cells that are capable of controlled differentiation are also well suited to cell biological investigations by live-cell high-resolution light and electron microscopy. As most archaea only have a glycoprotein lattice S-layer, rather than a peptidoglycan cell wall like bacteria, the activity of the tubulin-like cytoskeletal proteins at the cell envelope is expected to vary significantly, and may involve direct membrane remodelling or directed synthesis or insertion of the S-layer protein subunits. Further studies of archaeal cell biology will provide fresh insight into the evolution of cells and the principles in common to their fundamental activities across the full spectrum of cellular life.
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Cover Image
Cover Image
In the cover image, which depicts archaeal cell division, fl uorescence microscopy shows FtsZ1-GFP localisation in pleomorphic cells of Haloferax volcanii. This archaeal model organism was originally isolated from the Dead Sea, but is well suited to live-cell studies owing to its relatively large, flat cells that show distinct differentiation. Multiple proteins from the tubulin superfamily control cell division and cell shape in this species (see article by Liao et al in this issue; pages 547–559). Archaea are expected to provide important insights into cellular evolution and fundamental cell structures such as the cytoskeleton. Image kindly provided by Iain Duggin (The ithree institute, University of Technology Sydney).
Archaeal cell biology: diverse functions of tubulin-like cytoskeletal proteins at the cell envelope
Nicholas P. Robinson, Yan Liao, Solenne Ithurbide, Roshali T. de Silva, Susanne Erdmann, Iain G. Duggin; Archaeal cell biology: diverse functions of tubulin-like cytoskeletal proteins at the cell envelope. Emerg Top Life Sci 14 December 2018; 2 (4): 547–559. doi: https://doi.org/10.1042/ETLS20180026
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