Laboratoire de Chimie Bacte´rienne, CNRS UMR 7283, Aix-Marseille Universite´ , Institut de Microbiologie de la Me´diterrane´ e, Marseille, France Professor Tam Mignot
We are interested in determining the mechanism of the so-called Myxococcus (A)-motility, a process where the bacterial cell moves smoothly along its long axis in absence of obvious extracellular organelles. Combining genetics, cell biology and physics, we have recently identified the motility machinery for the first time. Work from ours and other laboratories have led to a working model, proposing that ventral assembly of the motility complex promotes movement. However, how the machinery propels the cells is still obscure. How are traction forces produced? Is there a connection with the cytoskeleton? How is the directionality of the system dictated? Are some of the questions that we are trying to address. To do this, we are combining techniques from the realms of genetics, cell biology and physics. For more information, see Mignot et al. (2007), Sun, Wartel et al. (2011), Luciano, Agrebi et al. (2011).
(2014.09.17)