Assembly dynamics of the bacterial MinCDE system and spatial regulation of the Z ring.
The positioning of a cytoskeletal element that dictates the division plane is a fundamental problem in biology. The assembly and positioning of this cytoskeletal element has to be coordinated with DNA segregation and cell growth to ensure that equal-sized progeny cells are produced, each with a copy of the chromosome. In most prokaryotes, cytokinesis involves positioning a Z ring assembled from FtsZ, the ancestral homologue of tubulin. The position of the Z ring is determined by a gradient of negative regulators of Z-ring assembly. In Escherichia coli, the Min system consists of three proteins that cooperate to position the Z ring through a fascinating oscillation, which inhibits the formation of the Z ring away from midcell. Additional gradients of negative regulators of FtsZ assembly are used by E. coli and other bacteria to achieve spatial control of Z-ring assembly.
Lutkenhaus
Joe
J
Department of Microbiology, Molecular Genetics and Immunology, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, Kansas 66160, USA. jlutkenh@kumc.edu
D000251:Adenosine Triphosphatases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D001419:Bacteria / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D018797:Cell Cycle Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000378:metabolism; D048749:Cytokinesis / Q000502:physiology*; D003599:Cytoskeleton / Q000378:metabolism*; D029968:Escherichia coli Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D015964:Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial; D010641:Phenotype; D011485:Protein Binding
D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D018797:Cell Cycle Proteins; D029968:Escherichia coli Proteins; C080466:MinC protein, Bacteria; C093548:MinE protein, E coli; D000251:Adenosine Triphosphatases; C072069:MinD protein, E coli