title: Guanine nucleotide-dependent assembly of FtsZ into filaments.
abstract: FtsZ is an essential cell division protein that is localized to the leading edge of the bacterial septum in a cytokinetic ring. It contains the tubulin signature motif and is a GTP binding protein with a GTPase activity. Further comparison of FtsZ with eukaryotic tubulins revealed some additional sequence similarities, perhaps indicating a similar GTP binding site. Examination of FtsZ incubated in vitro by electron microscopy revealed a guanine nucleotide-dependent assembly into protein filaments, supporting the hypothesis that the FtsZ ring is formed through self-assembly. FtsZ3, which is unable to bind GTP, does not polymerize, whereas FtsZ2, which binds GTP but is deficient in GTP hydrolysis, is capable of polymerization.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, Molecular Genetics and Immunology, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City 66103.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mukherjee
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lutkenhaus
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D003598:Cytoskeletal Proteins; D004926:Escherichia coli; D019204:GTP-Binding Proteins / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D006150:Guanine Nucleotides / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D016624:Negative Staining; D017386:Sequence Homology, Amino Acid; D014404:Tubulin / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D003598:Cytoskeletal Proteins; C071525:FtsZ protein, Bacteria; D006150:Guanine Nucleotides; D014404:Tubulin; D019204:GTP-Binding Proteins