Table of contents (required)
Preface
Chapter 1: Towards a Comparative Systems Biology of the Alphaproteobacterial Cell Cycle
Abstract Introduction Comparative genomics of the cell cycle Cell cycle involvement of sncRNAs Towards Comparative Systems Biology of the Cell Cycle Conclusions Bibliography
Chapter 2: Temporal control of promoter activity during the Caulobacter cell cycle.
Early S-phase transcriptional control - DnaA, and its targets - Regulation of DnaA - GcrA, and its targets - Regulation of GcrA Late S-phase transcriptional program - CtrA, and its targets - Regulation of CtrA - Negative regulation by the ancestral virulence regulators, MucR1/2 The G1 phase transcriptional program - CtrA, and its target - Negative regulation of the S-phase promoters by the small CtrA inhibitory protein SciP - TacA, and its targets Transcriptional cascades in cell cycle regulated functional modules - Transcriptional control of flagellar biogenesis - Chemotaxis machinery biogenesis transcriptional control - Pili biogenesis transcriptional control - Transcriptional control of the divisome - Transcriptional control of capsulation - Transcriptional control of holdfast formation and stalk biogenesis Transcriptional reprogramming in response to changing environmental conditions - Alternative Sigma factors and stationary phase regulators - (p)ppGpp - Small regulatory RNAs
Chapter 3: Cell cycle signal transduction and proteolysis in Caulobacter
Abstract Introduction - The two-component signaling paradigm - Cyclic-di-GMP-dependent signaling Two core phosphorylation pathways regulate the Caulobacter cell cycle and development Non-canonical interactions between the DivJ-PleC-DivK and CckA-ChpT-CtrA pathways control polarity and development cdG signaling regulates the Caulobacter cell cycle and polar development - The cell cycle signaling network both generates and is modulated by cdG oscillations - cdG signaling is required for polar morphogenesis Spatial regulation of CckA activity Proteolytic regulation of the Caulobacter cell cycle - AAA+ proteases and adaptor-mediated proteolysis - Cell cycle regulation of CtrA proteolysis - Regulated proteolysis of proteins that modulate CtrA activity - Proteolysis of substrates that regulate DNA replication and methylation - Degradation of proteins involved in cell division Nutrient cues affecting the Caulobacter cell cycle - (p)ppGpp is produced in response to starvation in E. coli - (p)ppGpp is a key mediator of Caulobacter starvation responses - Linkages between ammonium deprivation and (p)ppGpp synthesis - Effects of (p)ppGpp in Caulobacter Oscillations in cellular redox status and their effects - Redox-sensitive NstA regulates topoisomerase IV - NADH-producing and NADH-binding proteins regulate Z-ring assembly Outlook
Chapter 4: Cell division in Caulobacter crescentus: A molecular-scale model
An overview of division Z-ring composition, structure, and dynamics - FtsZ: The building block of the Z-ring - Z-ring structure and dynamics - Open Questions Building the Z-ring: Spatiotemporal regulation of Z-ring formation - Cell cycle control of FtsZ protein levels - Z-ring site selection - Cell cycle control of FtsZ self-interaction: A putative model - Focusing the Z-ring - Attachment of the Z-ring to the membrane - Open Questions The Z-ring: A scaffold for the rest of the divisome - Open Questions Divisome-associated elongation - Open Questions Constriction: A PG synthesis-driven process - Force generation through PG synthesis - Constriction-specific PG synthesis machinery - FtsZ-mediated PG synthase localization and activation - Stress response-mediated constriction regulation - Downstream PG synthase activation pathways - Open Questions Envelope maintenance - Open Questions Cell separation, polar organization, and the final events of division - Cell separation - Recruitment of polarity determining factors - Z-ring disassembly and MreB dispersal - Cell pole shape determination - Open Questions Conclusions and Outlook
Chapter 5: Chromosome segregation in Alphaproteobacteria
Abstract Overview of chromosome segregation Broad conservation of the ParABS centromere translocation system Centromeres are defined by parS nucleotide sequences ParB assembles into a complex superstructure at the parS region The ParA ATPase is essential for chromosome segregation ParA dynamics and ATP-cycling drive centromere translocation Chromosome segregation is under control of polar guidance cues Segregation activities outside of Par
