MreB
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2008-05-07T07:26:11Z
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robot Adding: [[es:MreB]]
[[Image:MreB.png|thumb|Procaryotic MreB ([[Protein_Data_Bank|PDB]] code: 1jce) in cartoon representation. The fold of the protein is similar to its eukaryotic counterpart [[actin]].]]
'''MreB''' is a protein found in bacteria that has been identified as a [[homology (biology)|homologue]] of [[actin]], as indicated by similarities in [[tertiary structure]] and conservation of active site [[amino acid sequence|peptide sequence]]. The conservation of protein structure suggests the [[common descent|common ancestry]] of the [[cytoskeleton|cytoskeletal]] elements actin, found in [[eukaryote|eukaryotes]], and MreB, found in [[prokaryote|prokaryotes]]. Indeed, recent studies have found that MreB proteins [[polymerization|polymerize]] to form filaments that are similar to actin [[microfilament|microfilaments]].
==Function==
MreB controls the width of rod-shaped [[bacterium|bacteria]], such as [[Escherichia coli |''Escherichia coli'']]. A [[mutant|mutant]] ''E. coli'' that creates defective MreB proteins will be spherical instead of rod-like. Also, bacteria that are naturally spherical do not have the [[gene|gene]] encoding MreB. Prokaryotes carrying the ''mreB'' gene can also be [[helix|helical]] in shape. MreB filaments sit right beneath the bacterial [[cell membrane|cell membrane]] and give bacteria a strong, rigid structure, as if the bacterium were being stretched out from the inside.
== Sources ==
* {{cite journal |author=Erickson H |title=Cytoskeleton. Evolution in bacteria |journal=Nature |volume=413 |issue=6851 |pages=30 |year=2001 |pmid=11544510 |url=http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v413/n6851/full/413030a0.html |doi=10.1038/35092655}} - source of information added to this entry as of February 20, 2006
{{Cytoskeletal Proteins}}
{{bacteria-stub}}
{{protein-stub}}
[[es:MreB]]
[[uk:MreB]]