Negative regulatory role of the Escherichia coli hfq gene in cell division.
We found that the hfq::cat mutant strain produced minicells at high frequency. Minicell production by the mutant strain was more prominent in poor media and in the stationary phase than in rich media and in the exponentially growing phase. The amount of the cell division protein FtsZ increased up to two- to threefold of the wild-type cells in the hfq::cat mutant in the stationary phase, while such differences were not observed in the exponentially growing phase. Increased ftsZ mRNA levels were also observed in the hfq::cat mutant in the stationary phase. These results suggest a negative regulatory role of the DNA-, RNA-binding protein Hfq in cell division in the stationary phase.
Takada
A
A
Department of Bioengineering, Tokyo Institute of Technology, 4259 Nagatsuta, Midori-ku, Yokohama, 226-8501, Japan.
Wachi
M
M
Nagai
K
K
D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D002455:Cell Division / Q000235:genetics*; D048429:Cell Size / Q000235:genetics; D003598:Cytoskeletal Proteins; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000235:genetics*; D029968:Escherichia coli Proteins; D015964:Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial; D005816:Genetic Complementation Test; D035001:Host Factor 1 Protein; D034982:Integration Host Factors; D008856:Microscopy, Fluorescence; D008858:Microscopy, Phase-Contrast; D009154:Mutation; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism
D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D002352:Carrier Proteins; D003598:Cytoskeletal Proteins; D029968:Escherichia coli Proteins; C071525:FtsZ protein, Bacteria; D035001:Host Factor 1 Protein; D034982:Integration Host Factors; D012333:RNA, Messenger; C440502:integration host factor, E coli