'Bricklaying' and 'Treadmilling' in Bacteria (VIDEO)

Delft University of Technology

Caption

bBcteria appear to build a new cell wall working from the outside in with the help of multiple molecular 'bricklayers'. The engine that drives all of this is FtsZ, a protein that makes an arched -haped piece of polymer, and which appears to move via a phenomenon known as 'treadmilling', named after the old treadmills from the Middle Ages.

Credit

TU Delft/Scixel

Usage Restrictions

None

License

Licensed content

Disclaimer: AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert system.