PASTA or nothing !
In a work published in Nature Microbiology in December 2017 by the Christophe Grangeasse team (MMSB), and in collaboration with teams of MMSB, LBTI and LBBE Units, the researchers revealed the major role of PASTA domains of the membrane-kinase protein StkP in cell division of the human pathogen Streptococcus pneumoniae. In particular, the study deciphered the respective roles of the 4 PASTA repeats in the organization and hydrolysis of the cell wall.
The Protein Science Facility of SFR Biosciences contributed to the study for production and crystallogenesis and solving the structure of the distal PASTA repeat.
This work has shown that this repeat allows the localization of StkP at the dividing septum. It also contributes to cell constriction and final separation of daughter cells.