Cell shape-determining protein MreB (MreB)

Cell shape-determining protein MreB is a bacterial cytoskeletal protein and a structural homolog of eukaryotic actin [1, 9]. It is essential for maintaining the rod shape of many bacteria by coordinating the spatial organization of the cell wall synthesis machinery [1, 8]. MreB assembles into dynamic, membrane-associated filaments that rotate around the cell circumference, directing the insertion of new peptidoglycan building blocks [1, 8]. Beyond its role in morphogenesis, MreB is involved in other critical processes such as chromosome segregation, cell division, and the establishment of cell polarity [1, 5]. Because it is highly conserved across diverse rod-shaped bacterial species and possesses structural differences from human actin, it is considered a promising target for the development of novel antibiotics [3, 5]. Small molecule inhibitors like A22 and CBR-4830 target MreB by binding to its nucleotide-binding pocket or adjacent sites, thereby inhibiting its ATPase activity and preventing filament polymerization [5, 6]. Disruption of MreB function leads to the loss of rod shape, resulting in spherical (coccoid) cells that are prone to lysis and death [4, 11]. Targeting MreB offers a potential strategy to combat multi-drug resistant bacterial infections by disrupting fundamental structural and developmental pathways [4, 7].