title: Targeting the bacterial Z-ring.
abstract: FtsZ is a prokaryotic homolog of eukaryotic tubulin and forms the essential bacterial cell division ring (Z-ring). A new study in this issue of Chemistry & Biology, Läppchen et al., provides further evidence that differences in nucleotide-binding properties of FtsZ and tubulin can be exploited to specifically target the bacterial Z-ring.
authors.affiliation: Institute for Cell and Molecular Biosciences, Newcastle University, Framlington Place, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE2 4HH, UK. W.Vollmer@ncl.ac.uk <W.Vollmer@ncl.ac.uk>
authors.forename: Waldemar
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Vollmer
mesh_terms: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D001419:Bacteria / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects*; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects; D003598:Cytoskeletal Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D015195:Drug Design; D008958:Models, Molecular; D009711:Nucleotides / Q000378:metabolism; D017434:Protein Structure, Tertiary; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014404:Tubulin / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D003598:Cytoskeletal Proteins; C071525:FtsZ protein, Bacteria; D009711:Nucleotides; D014404:Tubulin