Asymmetric cell division in B. subtilis involves a spiral-like intermediate of the cytokinetic protein FtsZ.
A fundamental feature of development in the spore-forming bacterium Bacillus subtilis is the switch from medial to asymmetric division. The switch is brought about by a change in the location of the cytokinetic Z ring, which is composed of the tubulin-like protein FtsZ, from the cell middle to the poles during sporulation. We report that the medial Z ring is replaced by a spiral-like filament of FtsZ that grows along the long axis of the cell. We propose that the filament mediates the switch by redeploying FtsZ to the poles. Spiral formation and the switch to polar Z rings are largely caused by a sporulation-specific increase in transcription of the gene for FtsZ and activation of the gene for the FtsZ-associated protein SpoIIE.
Ben-Yehuda
Sigal
S
Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Harvard University, 16 Divinity Avenue, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA.
Losick
Richard
R
D001412:Bacillus subtilis / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism*; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000502:physiology*; D002455:Cell Division / Q000502:physiology*; D003598:Cytoskeletal Proteins; D003599:Cytoskeleton / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D015964:Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial / Q000502:physiology*; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins; D007202:Indicators and Reagents / Q000378:metabolism; D008164:Luminescent Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D009154:Mutation / Q000235:genetics; D009876:Operon / Q000502:physiology; D012808:Sigma Factor / Q000378:metabolism; D013171:Spores, Bacterial / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000378:metabolism
D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D003598:Cytoskeletal Proteins; C121014:EzrA protein, Bacillus subtilis; C065103:FtsA protein, Bacteria; C071525:FtsZ protein, Bacteria; D007202:Indicators and Reagents; D008164:Luminescent Proteins; C120328:SigH protein, bacteria; D012808:Sigma Factor; C080950:Spo0A protein, Bacillus subtilis; D014157:Transcription Factors; C092468:spoIIR protein, Bacillus subtilis; C030069:spore-specific proteins, Bacillus; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins