Distinct cytoskeletal proteins define zones of enhanced cell wall synthesis in Helicobacter pylori

Helical cell shape is necessary for efficient stomach colonization by
Helicobacter pylori, but the molecular mechanisms for generating helical
shape remain unclear. We show that the helical centerline pitch and radius
of wild-type H. pylori cells dictate surface curvatures of considerably
higher positive and negative Gaussian curvatures than those present in
straight- or curved-rod bacteria. Quantitative 3D microscopy analysis of
short pulses with either N-acetylmuramic acid or D-alanine metabolic
probes showed that cell wall growth is enhanced at both sidewall curvature
extremes. Immunofluorescence revealed MreB is most abundant at negative
Gaussian curvature, while the bactofilin CcmA is most abundant at positive
Gaussian curvature. Strains expressing CcmA variants with altered
polymerization properties lose helical shape and associated positive
Gaussian curvatures. We thus propose a model where CcmA and MreB promote
PG synthesis at positive and negative Gaussian curvatures, respectively,
and that this patterning is one mechanism necessary for maintaining
helical shape. This dataset includes structured illumination fluorescence
microscopy images (SIM) and their associated cell shape reconstructions,
phase contrast micrographs, and transmission electron micrographs. See the
README.txt for detailed description of the strains and conditions
represented in each data file.