Regulation of cell division in Escherichia coli K-12: probable interactions among proteins FtsQ, FtsA, and FtsZ

Journal Article · Fri May 01 04:00:00 EDT 1987 · J. Bacteriol.; (United States)

OSTI ID:6405308

Descoteaux, A; Drapeau, G R

In Escherichia coli, the FtsQ, FtsA, and FtsZ proteins are believed to play essential roles in the regulation of cell division. Of the three proteins, FtsZ has received the most attention, particularly because of its interactions with SfiA. Double mutants which carry mutations located in the ftsQ, ftsA, or ftsZ gene in combination with the lon-1 mutation were constructed. In the presence of the lon-1 mutation, which is known to stabilize SfiA, the ftsQ1 mutant cells were not capable of forming colonies on a rich agar medium, whereas mutant cells harboring either one of the mutations grew well on this medium. Examination of lon-1 fts double-mutant cells for sensitivity to UV light revealed that those carrying the ftsA10 allele were resistant. It was also observed that in the presence of a multicopy plasmid containing a wild-type ftsZ gene, the ftsQ1 mutant filamented markedly following a nutritional shift-up and that the division rate of ftsZ84 mutant cells was slightly reduced when they harbored a wild-type ftsQ-containing plasmid. The possibility that the Fts proteins are interacting with one another and forming a molecular complex is discussed.

• Research Organization: Universite de Montreal, Quebec
• OSTI ID: 6405308
• Journal Information: J. Bacteriol.; (United States), Journal Name: J. Bacteriol.; (United States) Vol. 5; ISSN JOBAA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

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560130* -- Radiation Effects on Microorganisms
59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
BACTERIA
CELL CONSTITUENTS
CELL DIVISION
CLONING
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
ESCHERICHIA COLI
GENE REGULATION
GENES
MICROORGANISMS
MUTANTS
MUTATIONS
PLASMIDS
RADIATIONS
RADIOSENSITIVITY
ULTRAVIOLET RADIATION