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BP: Fachverband Biologische Physik
BP 33: Posters - Systems Biology & Gene Expression and Signalling
BP 33.3: Poster
Tuesday, March 21, 2017, 14:00–16:00, P2-OG1
Quantitative analysis of the spatial toggle switch that controls Myxococcus xanthus motility — •Manon Wigbers1, Luis Carreira2, Filipe Tostevin1, Dobromir Szadkowski2, Lotte Søgaard-Andersen2, and Ulrich Gerland1 — 1Department of Physics, Technische Universität München, Garching, Germany — 2Max Planck Institute for Terrestrial Microbiology, Marburg, Germany
Dynamic control of cell polarity switching is central to the regulation of Myxococcus xanthus motility. Each reversal of the direction of motion of a M. xanthus cell is preceded by a reversal of its cell polarity, which is marked by an asymmetric distribution of signaling proteins. Key components of this system include MglA, which accumulates at the leading cell pole, and MglB, which localizes to the lagging cell pole. The correct localization of the Mgl proteins is also mutually dependent on other proteins, including RomR. Together, these proteins form an intriguing *spatial toggle switch*. Here, we use quantitative data analysis and biophysical modeling to study the working principle of this system. In particular, we study how the asymmetric protein distributions emerge from the involved interactions and reactions, and how the switching of cell polarity could be brought about by the upstream Frz system. We establish a model that has qualitative agreement with the localization patterns of the MglA/MglB/RomR system, for the wild type and all mutants. Furthermore we perform a systematic search to find possible mechanisms to control polarity switching.