Print Email Facebook Twitter Bulk-surface coupling identifies the mechanistic connection between Min-protein patterns in vivo and in vitro Title Bulk-surface coupling identifies the mechanistic connection between Min-protein patterns in vivo and in vitro Author Brauns, Fridtjof (Ludwig Maximilians University) Pawlik, G. (TU Delft BN/Cees Dekker Lab; Kavli institute of nanoscience Delft) Halatek, Jacob (Microsoft Research New England) Kerssemakers, J.W.J. (TU Delft BN/Technici en Analisten; Kavli institute of nanoscience Delft) Frey, Erwin (Ludwig Maximilians University) Dekker, C. (TU Delft BN/Cees Dekker Lab; Kavli institute of nanoscience Delft) Date 2021 Abstract Self-organisation of Min proteins is responsible for the spatial control of cell division in Escherichia coli, and has been studied both in vivo and in vitro. Intriguingly, the protein patterns observed in these settings differ qualitatively and quantitatively. This puzzling dichotomy has not been resolved to date. Using reconstituted proteins in laterally wide microchambers with a well-controlled height, we experimentally show that the Min protein dynamics on the membrane crucially depend on the micro chamber height due to bulk concentration gradients orthogonal to the membrane. A theoretical analysis shows that in vitro patterns at low microchamber height are driven by the same lateral oscillation mode as pole-to-pole oscillations in vivo. At larger microchamber height, additional vertical oscillation modes set in, marking the transition to a qualitatively different in vitro regime. Our work reveals the qualitatively different mechanisms of mass transport that govern Min protein-patterns for different bulk heights and thus shows that Min patterns in cells are governed by a different mechanism than those in vitro. To reference this document use: http://resolver.tudelft.nl/uuid:a560de03-83cd-4d2c-8cda-36f63227b93a DOI https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-021-23412-5 ISSN 2041-1723 Source Nature Communications, 12 (1) Part of collection Institutional Repository Document type journal article Rights © 2021 Fridtjof Brauns, G. Pawlik, Jacob Halatek, J.W.J. Kerssemakers, Erwin Frey, C. Dekker Files PDF s41467_021_23412_5.pdf 5.8 MB Close viewer /islandora/object/uuid:a560de03-83cd-4d2c-8cda-36f63227b93a/datastream/OBJ/view