title: Effects of tubulin assembly inhibitors on cell division in prokaryotes in vivo.
abstract: The bacterial cell division protein FtsZ is a structural analogue of tubulin. Bacterial mutants in which the ftsZ gene is inactivated are unable to divide. Numerous inhibitors of tubulin assembly are known, some of which are used as fungicides. The strong structural homology between FtsZ and tubulin raises the possibility that some of these inhibitors could affect bacterial cell division. Here we report that the tubulin assembly inhibitors thiabendazole and 2-methylbenzimidazole cause cell elongation in Escherichia coli and cyanobacteria.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, University College London, Darwin Building, Gower St., WC1E 6BT, London, UK.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sarcina
authors.forename: C W
authors.initials: CW
authors.lastname: Mullineaux
mesh_terms: D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D001562:Benzimidazoles / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects*; D000458:Cyanobacteria / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development; D003598:Cytoskeletal Proteins; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development; D009154:Mutation; D013827:Thiabendazole / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014404:Tubulin / Q000378:metabolism; D050257:Tubulin Modulators
chemical_list: D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D001562:Benzimidazoles; D003598:Cytoskeletal Proteins; C071525:FtsZ protein, Bacteria; D014404:Tubulin; D050257:Tubulin Modulators; D013827:Thiabendazole; C109865:2-methylbenzimidazole