Regulation of cell division in E. coli.
Recent investigation of some old cell division mutants of E. coli suggests that genes playing central roles in the regulation of division have been identified. The results suggest that cell division is triggered when a critical level of a single protein, FtsZ, is attained. The activity of this protein is channelled to the new division site by the activity of the min locus, which blocks access to old sites. Continued study of these genes should yield further insights into the cell division process.
Lutkenhaus
J
J
Department of Microbiology, Molecular Genetics and Immunology, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City 66103.
D002455:Cell Division; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000235:genetics*; D005798:Genes, Bacterial; D006358:Hot Temperature; D008954:Models, Biological; D009154:Mutation