Maturation of the Escherichia coli divisome occurs in two steps.
Cell division proteins FtsZ (FtsA, ZipA, ZapA), FtsE/X, FtsK, FtsQ, FtsL/B, FtsW, PBP3, FtsN and AmiC localize at mid cell in Escherichia coli in an interdependent order as listed. To investigate whether this reflects a time dependent maturation of the divisome, the average cell age at which FtsZ, FtsQ, FtsW, PBP3 and FtsN arrive at their destination was determined by immuno- and GFP-fluorescence microscopy of steady state grown cells at a variety of growth rates. Consistently, a time delay of 14-21 min, depending on the growth rate, between Z-ring formation and the mid cell recruitment of proteins down stream of FtsK was found. We suggest a two-step model for bacterial division in which the Z-ring is involved in the switch from cylindrical to polar peptidoglycan synthesis, whereas the much later localizing cell division proteins are responsible for the modification of the envelope shape into that of two new poles.
Aarsman
Mirjam E G
ME
Molecular Cytology, Swammerdam Institute for Life Sciences, University of Amsterdam, Kruislaan 316, 1098 SM Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
Piette
André
A
Fraipont
Claudine
C
Vinkenvleugel
Thessa M F
TM
Nguyen-Distèche
Martine
M
den Blaauwen
Tanneke
T
D018528:ATP-Binding Cassette Transporters / Q000378:metabolism; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D018797:Cell Cycle Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D002455:Cell Division; D019005:Cystic Fibrosis Transmembrane Conductance Regulator / Q000378:metabolism; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000737:chemistry / Q000166:cytology / Q000254:growth & development*; D029968:Escherichia coli Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D017930:Genes, Reporter; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D007700:Kinetics; D046911:Macromolecular Substances / Q000378:metabolism*; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D008856:Microscopy, Fluorescence; D009024:Morphogenesis; D010457:Peptidoglycan / Q000096:biosynthesis; D011485:Protein Binding; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
D018528:ATP-Binding Cassette Transporters; D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D018797:Cell Cycle Proteins; D029968:Escherichia coli Proteins; C096452:FtsK protein, E coli; C098711:FtsN protein, E coli; C068023:FtsQ protein, E coli; C076835:FtsZ84 protein, E coli; D046911:Macromolecular Substances; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D010457:Peptidoglycan; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins; C078387:ftsL protein, E coli; C075980:FtsE protein, E coli; C061684:FtsW protein, Bacteria; D019005:Cystic Fibrosis Transmembrane Conductance Regulator; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins