# Identification and characterization of factors affecting cytoskeletal proteins--the mediators of bacterial cell shape

> **NIH NIH SC3** · CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY NORTHRIDGE · 2020 · $108,750

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY
In general, mediators of bacterial cell shape via the cytoskeleton are not well understood. We will explore the
interplay of the cytoskeleton and cell shape based on three promising observations. First, we have identified a
phospholipid synthase (CC1159) that, when overexpressed, causes the bacterium Caulobacter crescentus to
change its shape from a crescent to a rod-shaped morphology by inhibiting the localization and function of the
intermediate filament protein known as crescentin. Second, overexpression of a catalytically inactive version
of the phospholipid synthase still mediates the change in cell shape, suggesting that the phenotype results
from a protein-protein interaction instead of elevated levels of a phospholipid. Third, bacterial two-hybrid data
suggest that our phospholipid synthase interacts with itself and with cytosine triphosphate synthase (CtpS),
which also induces a rod-shaped morphology when overexpressed via interaction with crescentin. Human
homologs of crescentin, the intermediate filament nuclear Lamins A/C, are implicated in premature aging and
muscular dystrophy, and we suggest a link between phospholipid synthesis and intermediate filaments in C.
crescentus that may parallel their human homologs. Research in the eukaryotic literature is just starting to link
phospholipids/sphingolipids [and glycosylphosphatidylinositol-anchored proteins (GPI-AP)] with intermediate
filaments, suggesting that our investigations in C. crescentus may be relevant to humans. Additionally,
Helicobacter pylori's and Vibrio cholerae's crescent shape contributes to host colonization and pathogenesis.
Thus, our findings may be also relevant to cell shape and pathogenicity of these human pathogens.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9905535
- **Project number:** 5SC3GM121234-03
- **Recipient organization:** CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY NORTHRIDGE
- **Principal Investigator:** Sean Murray
- **Activity code:** SC3 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $108,750
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2018-05-01 → 2022-04-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9905535

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9905535, Identification and characterization of factors affecting cytoskeletal proteins--the mediators of bacterial cell shape (5SC3GM121234-03). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-26 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9905535. Licensed CC0.

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