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Regulation of cell shape in bacteria
Rod-like bacteria such as Escherichia coli control their macroscopic cylindrical shape with high precision by expanding and remodeling their cell envelope, in particular the peptidoglycan cell wall, a mesh of covalently bond sugar strands and peptide bonds. Many of the major components required for cell-wall cleavage and synthesis are known. However, only recently have we gained first insights into their spatio-temporal regulation. Here, I will discuss the different physical cues that are important for cell-wall remodeling, mechanical stress, cell-envelope curvature, and the molecular cell-wall structure, and how they influence cell-wall remodeling either directly at the level of the cell-wall modifying machinery or indirectly through the actin cytoskeleton MreB.