A model of cell-wall dynamics during sporulation in Bacillus subtilis.

To survive starvation, Bacillus subtilis forms durable spores. After asymmetric cell division, the septum grows around the forespore in a process called engulfment, but the mechanism of force generation is unknown. Here, we derived a novel biophysical model for the dynamics of cell-wall remodeling during engulfment based on a balancing of dissipative, active, and mechanical forces. By plotting phase diagrams, we predict that sporulation is promoted by a line tension from the attachment of the septum to the outer cell wall, as well as by an imbalance in turgor pressures in the mother-cell and forespore compartments. We also predict that significant mother-cell growth hinders engulfment. Hence, relatively simple physical principles may guide this complex biological process.

Citation

Li-Wei Yap, Robert G Endres. A model of cell-wall dynamics during sporulation in Bacillus subtilis. Soft matter. 2017 Nov 15;13(44):8089-8095

PMID: 29057401

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