Coiled-coil protein Scy is a key component of a multiprotein assembly controlling polarized growth in Streptomyces

Polarized growth in eukaryotes requires polar multiprotein complexes. Here, we establish that selection and maintenance of cell polarity for growth also requires a dedicated multiprotein assembly in the filamentous bacterium, Streptomyces coelicolor. We present evidence for a tip organizing center and confirm two of its main components: Scy (Streptomyces cytoskeletal element), a unique bacterial coiled-coil protein with an unusual repeat periodicity, and the known polarity determinant DivIVA. We also establish a link between the tip organizing center and the filament-forming protein FilP. Interestingly, both deletion and overproduction of Scy generated multiple polarity centers, suggesting a mechanism wherein Scy can both promote and limit the number of emerging polarity centers via the organization of the Scy-DivIVA assemblies. We propose that Scy is a molecular “assembler,” which, by sequestering DivIVA, promotes the establishment of new polarity centers for de novo tip formation during branching, as well as supporting polarized growth at existing hyphal tips.