An outer membrane porin-lipoprotein complex modulates elongasome movement to establish cell curvature in Rhodospirillum rubrum

Sebastian Pöhl, Giacomo Giacomelli, Fabian M. Meyer, Volker Kleeberg, Eli J. Cohen, Jacob Biboy, Julia Rosum, Timo Glatter, Waldemar Vollmer, Muriel C. F. Teeseling, Johann Heider, Marc Bramkamp and Martin Thanbichler ()
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Sebastian Pöhl: University of Marburg
Giacomo Giacomelli: Kiel University
Fabian M. Meyer: Kiel University
Volker Kleeberg: University of Freiburg
Eli J. Cohen: Imperial College London
Jacob Biboy: Institute for Cell and Molecular Biosciences, Newcastle University
Julia Rosum: University of Marburg
Timo Glatter: Max Planck Institute for Terrestrial Microbiology
Waldemar Vollmer: Institute for Cell and Molecular Biosciences, Newcastle University
Muriel C. F. Teeseling: University of Marburg
Johann Heider: University of Marburg
Marc Bramkamp: Kiel University
Martin Thanbichler: University of Marburg

Nature Communications, 2024, vol. 15, issue 1, 1-21

Abstract: Abstract Curved cell shapes are widespread among bacteria and important for cellular motility, virulence and fitness. However, the underlying morphogenetic mechanisms are still incompletely understood. Here, we identify an outer-membrane protein complex that promotes cell curvature in the photosynthetic species Rhodospirillum rubrum. We show that the R. rubrum porins Por39 and Por41 form a helical ribbon-like structure at the outer curve of the cell that recruits the peptidoglycan-binding lipoprotein PapS, with PapS inactivation, porin delocalization or disruption of the porin-PapS interface resulting in cell straightening. We further demonstrate that porin-PapS assemblies act as molecular cages that entrap the cell elongation machinery, thus biasing cell growth towards the outer curve. These findings reveal a mechanistically distinct morphogenetic module mediating bacterial cell shape. Moreover, they uncover an unprecedented role of outer-membrane protein patterning in the spatial control of intracellular processes, adding an important facet to the repertoire of regulatory mechanisms in bacterial cell biology.

Date: 2024
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-51790-z

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