Escherichia coli cell division protein FtsZ is a guanine nucleotide binding protein.
FtsZ is an essential cell division protein in Escherichia coli that forms a ring structure at the division site under cell cycle control. The dynamic nature of the FtsZ ring suggests possible similarities to eukaryotic filament forming proteins such as tubulin. In this study we have determined that FtsZ is a GTP/GDP binding protein with GTPase activity. A short segment of FtsZ is homologous to a segment in tubulin believed to be involved in the interaction between tubulin and guanine nucleotides. A lethal ftsZ mutation, ftsZ3 (Rsa), that leads to an amino acid alteration in this homologous segment decreased GTP binding and hydrolysis, suggesting that interaction with GTP is essential for ftsZ function.
Mukherjee
A
A
Department of Microbiology, Molecular Genetics and Immunology, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City 66103.
Dai
K
K
Lutkenhaus
J
J
D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism*; D002455:Cell Division; D003598:Cytoskeletal Proteins; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000166:cytology / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism*; D020558:GTP Phosphohydrolases / Q000378:metabolism; D019204:GTP-Binding Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D006150:Guanine Nucleotides / Q000378:metabolism*; D006153:Guanosine Diphosphate / Q000378:metabolism; D006160:Guanosine Triphosphate / Q000378:metabolism; D007700:Kinetics; D016296:Mutagenesis
D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D003598:Cytoskeletal Proteins; C071525:FtsZ protein, Bacteria; D006150:Guanine Nucleotides; D006153:Guanosine Diphosphate; D006160:Guanosine Triphosphate; D020558:GTP Phosphohydrolases; D019204:GTP-Binding Proteins