The Prokaryotic Cytoskeleton

Download or read book The Prokaryotic Cytoskeleton written by S. Trachtenberg and published by . This book was released on 2006 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The eukaryotic cytoskeleton is an array of filamentous (e.g., actin, tubulin and intermediate filaments) and accessory proteins governing cell motility, cell shape control and intracellular trafficking. Until not long ago, the absence of an internal, eukaryotic-like cytoskeleton was regarded as a characteristic property of prokaryotic cells. Exceptions to this rule were the Mollicutes ('Spiroplasma and Mycoplasma'), in which a unique cytoskeleton was detected shortly after their discovery. The traditional cytoskeletal functions in bacteria are carried out by highly conserved external and periplasmic filaments (flagella, pili) and cell walls. In recent years, functional analogs of actin (MreB), tubulin (FtsZ) and intermediate filaments (crescentin) were found in prokaryotes. This special issue brings together invited contributions by experts in the field, elucidating the functional and structural aspects of the traditional and evolving prokaryotic cytoskeleton. Concise and up-to-date, it is recommended reading for microbiologists, cell and molecular biologists, biochemists and biophysicists.