title: Solution structure and domain architecture of the divisome protein FtsN.
abstract: Prokaryotic cell division occurs through the formation of a septum, which in Escherichia coli requires coordination of the invagination of the inner membrane, biosynthesis of peptidoglycan and constriction of the outer membrane. FtsN is an essential cell division protein and forms part of the divisome, a putative complex of proteins located in the cytoplasmic membrane. Structural analyses of FtsN by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) reveals an RNP-like fold at the C-terminus (comprising residues 243-319), which has significant sequence homology to a peptidoglycan-binding domain. Sequential deletion mutagenesis in combination with NMR shows that the remaining of the periplasmic region of FtsN is unfolded, with the exception of three short, only partially formed helices following the trans-membrane helix. Based on these findings we propose a model in which FtsN, anchored in the inner membrane, bridges over to the peptidoglycan layer, thereby enabling the coordination of the divisome and the murein-shaping machinery in the periplasm.
authors.affiliation: MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Hills Road, Cambridge CB2 2QH, UK.
authors.forename: Ji-Chun
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Fusinita
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Van Den Ent
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Neuhaus
authors.forename: Julian
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Brevier
authors.forename: Jan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Löwe
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D002455:Cell Division; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D029968:Escherichia coli Proteins / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics; D008958:Models, Molecular; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D019906:Nuclear Magnetic Resonance, Biomolecular; D017433:Protein Structure, Secondary; D016415:Sequence Alignment
chemical_list: D029968:Escherichia coli Proteins; C098711:FtsN protein, E coli; D008565:Membrane Proteins