The dynamic concentration gradient of the Min system coordinates with cell growth and contributes to cell size

Yu-LIng Shih^1*

¹Institute of Biological Chemistry, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan

* Presenter:Yu-LIng Shih, email:ylshih10@gate.sinica.edu.tw

Division site placement in Escherichia coli is mediated by several mechanisms, including the Min system. The Min system functions in blocking polar division through protein oscillation between cell poles, which results in a time-averaged concentration gradient showing inhibitory activity on cell division at the poles, thus facilitating division at midcell. This work reveals the dynamic concentration gradient of MinD that gradually releases division inhibition at midcell as the cell elongates. This results in modulation of the stability of the FtsZ ring assembly in cells at different growth stages and under different carbon stress conditions and thus results in synchrony with nutrient-dependent cell length regulation.

Keywords: the Min protein, Self-organization, Concentration gradient, Scaling