title: Maf acts downstream of ComGA to arrest cell division in competent cells of B. subtilis.
abstract: Transformable (competent) cells of Bacillus subtilis are blocked in cell division because the traffic ATPase ComGA prevents the formation of FtsZ rings. Although ComGA-deficient cells elongate and form FtsZ rings, cell division remains blocked at a later stage and the cells become mildly filamented. Here we show that the highly conserved protein Maf is synthesized predominantly in competent cells under the direct control of the transcription factor ComK and is solely responsible for the later block in cell division. In vivo and in vitro data show that Maf binds to both ComGA and DivIVA. A point mutation in maf that interferes with Maf binding to DivIVA also interferes with the ability of Maf to inhibit cell division. Based on these findings, we propose that Maf and ComGA mediate mechanisms for the inhibition of cell division in competent cells with Maf acting downstream of ComGA. We further suggest that Maf must interact with DivIVA to inhibit cell division.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, New Jersey Medical School, University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, Newark, NJ 07103, USA.
authors.forename: Kenneth
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Briley
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Prepiak
authors.forename: Miguel J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Dias
authors.forename: Jeanette
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hahn
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Dubnau
mesh_terms: D000251:Adenosine Triphosphatases / Q000378:metabolism; D001412:Bacillus subtilis / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology*; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D018797:Cell Cycle Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D002455:Cell Division; D017124:Conserved Sequence; D020125:Mutation, Missense; D017354:Point Mutation; D011485:Protein Binding; D025941:Protein Interaction Mapping; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D018797:Cell Cycle Proteins; C104636:DivIVA protein, bacteria; C081169:Maf protein, Bacillus subtilis; D014157:Transcription Factors; C087449:comK protein, Bacillus subtilis; D000251:Adenosine Triphosphatases