Myxococcus xanthus

Current research

"Identification of Additional Players in the Alternative Biosynthesis Pathway to Isovaleryl-CoA in the Myxobacterium Myxococcus xanthus Helge B. Bode,[a] Michael W. Ring,[a] Gertrud Schwr, Matthias O. Altmeyer, Carsten Kegler, Ivy R. Jose, Mitchell Singer, and Rolf Muller (2009)”

In this research, there has been found an alternative pathway to Isovaleryl - CoA in M. xanthus. The alternative pathway that has been discovered is 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-CoA synthase (MvaS), which is persuaded in mutants with non functional leucine degradation or during the formation of fruiting bodies.

"Genetic circuitry controlling motility behaviors of Myxococcus xanthus, Ta, m Mignot1 and John R. Kirby2 (2008)"

Current locomotion studies have revealed that the synchronizing of both motor systems is due to spatial oscillation of motility proteins. M. xanthus predation tactics are being studied with results such as: a sort of cell reversal motion which cause a wave like effect, directing towards the prey.

"Site-specific receptor methylation of FrzCD in Myxococcus xanthus is controlled by a tetra-trico peptide repeat (TPR) containing regulatory domain of the FrzF methyltransferase, Ansley E. Scott, Eric Simon, Samuel K. Park, Philip Andrews2 and David R. Zusman1 (2008)"

There is also a correlation between the ripple wavelength and amount of prey available. High amounts prey there are shorter wavelengths, lower amounts of prey cause a longer wavelength. Current research has positive results on the identification of the pathway responsible for chemotaxis in this bacteria. The assumed pathway is Frz, which activates FrCD, a chemotaxis protein.