Summary

Spatio-temporal oscillations of the Min proteins are essential for selecting the cell division site in Escheri-chia coli. These oscillations are a key example of a biological phenomenon that can only be understood on a systems level rather than on the level of its individual components. Here, we review the key con-cepts that mathematical modelling has added to our understanding of the Min system. While several dif-ferent mechanisms have been proposed, in all cases the oscillations emerge from a dynamic instability of a uniform protein distribution. To generate this instabil-ity, however, the various mechanisms rely on different features of Min protein interactions and transport. We critically evaluate these mechanisms in light of recent experimental evidence. We also review the effects o