Identification, cloning, and expression of bolA, an ftsZ-dependent morphogene of Escherichia coli.
A newly found morphogene of Escherichia coli, bolA, mapping at min 10 of the genetic map, was cloned in a 7.2-kilobase BamHI fragment and identified by its ability to produce osmotically stable spherical cells when overexpressed. This gene codes for a polypeptide of 13 kilodaltons. Overexpression of bolA+ was achieved in low-copy-number vectors with operon fusions to the tet and lac promoters, indicating a clockwise direction of transcription. While no modification of any of the penicillin-binding proteins was observed, morphological effects due to overexpression of bolA+ were shown to be dependent on the presence of an active ftsZ gene product. Our results suggest the existence of a mechanism mediated by FtsZ for modifying the conformation of nascent murein in the early steps of septum formation.
D002455:Cell Division; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000166:cytology / Q000235:genetics* / Q000254:growth & development; D005798:Genes, Bacterial; D008040:Genetic Linkage; D005822:Genetic Vectors; D009024:Morphogenesis; D010957:Plasmids; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic; D015183:Restriction Mapping; D014158:Transcription, Genetic; D014161:Transduction, Genetic