Bacterial Cell Division Regulation by Ser/Thr Kinases: A Structural Perspective

Title:Bacterial Cell Division Regulation by Ser/Thr Kinases: A Structural Perspective

Volume: 13 Issue: 8

Author(s): Alessia Ruggiero, Paola De Simone, Giovanni Smaldone, Flavia Squeglia and Rita Berisio

Affiliation:

Keywords: Cell division, structure, phosphorylation, peptidoglycan, Bacterial Cell Division, STPKs, KINASE DOMAIN, PASTA, MviN, EXTRACELLULAR REGION

Abstract: Recent genetic, biochemical and structural studies have established that eukaryotic-like Ser/Thr protein-kinases are critical mediators of developmental changes and host pathogen interactions in bacteria. Although with lower abundance compared to their homologues from eukaryotes, Ser/Thr protein-kinases are widespread in gram-positive bacteria. These data underline a key role of reversible Ser/Thr phosphorylation in bacterial physiology and virulence. Numerous studies have revealed how phosphorylation/dephosphorylation of Ser/Thr protein-kinases governs cell division and cell wall biosynthesis and that Ser/Thr protein kinases are responsible for distinct phenotypes, dependent on different environmental signals. In this review we discuss the current understandings of Ser/Thr protein-kinases functional processes based on structural data.

Cite this article as:

Ruggiero Alessia, De Simone Paola, Smaldone Giovanni, Squeglia Flavia and Berisio Rita, Bacterial Cell Division Regulation by Ser/Thr Kinases: A Structural Perspective, Current Protein & Peptide Science 2012; 13 (8) . https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/1389203711213080005