Micromanipulation of bacterial division

The new field of systems biology promises to use computer models of living systems to understand normal and diseased states of cells and to speed and optimize drug design. Building realistic models of individual cells will require a knowledge of how those cells self-assemble from their component parts. The shape of the cell affects the organization of the cellular interior. We want to understand the self-organization of cells, and how that is affected by the cell shape. To do this we will study the division of bacteria that are being systematically distorted in shape by custom-built micromachines. This will introduce novel MEMS (micro-electro-mechanical system) devices to the study of individual cells. "Min" proteins within E. coli bacteria self-organize into an oscillating standing wave, with a period of about one minute. The node of the standing wave identifies the middle of the bacterium, and division takes place there. We will study how the Min-wave is changed as the bacteria is cut artificially in two, or when spherical forms of the bacteria are flattened. This will help us identify the role of cell-shape in cell-function, teach us how to manipulate cell shape with micromachines, and help us to develop realistic models of how bacteria divide so accurately. The impact on human health will be through developing new micromechanical and computational approaches to study individual cells: at first to see how cells work naturally, but ultimately to see when and why cells do not work.