Oligomerization of FtsZ converts the FtsZ tail motif (conserved carboxy-terminal peptide) into a multivalent ligand with high avidity for partners ZipA and SlmA.
A short conserved motif located at the carboxy terminus of FtsZ, referred to here as the CCTP (conserved carboxy-terminal peptide), is required for the interaction of FtsZ with many of its partners. In Escherichia coli interaction of FtsZ with its membrane anchors, ZipA and FtsA, as well as the spatial regulators of Z-ring formation, MinC and SlmA, requires the CCTP. ZipA interacts with FtsZ with high affinity and interacts with the CCTP with low affinity, but the reason for this difference is not clear. In this study, we show that this difference is due to the oligomerization of FtsZ converting the CCTP to a multivalent ligand that binds multiple ZipAs bound to a surface with high avidity. Artificial dimerization of the CCTP is sufficient to increase the affinity for ZipA in vitro. Similar principles apply to the interaction of FtsZ with SlmA. Although done in vitro, these results have implications for the recruitment of FtsZ to the membrane in vivo, the interaction of FtsZ with spatial regulators and the reconstitution of FtsZ systems in vitro.
Department of Microbiology, Molecular Genetics and Immunology, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS, 66160, USA.
Shishen
S
Du
Kyung-Tae
KT
Park
Joe
J
Lutkenhaus
D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism*; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D018797:Cell Cycle Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D002455:Cell Division; D003598:Cytoskeletal Proteins / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism*; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000378:metabolism; D029968:Escherichia coli Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D008024:Ligands; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D011485:Protein Binding; D054730:Protein Interaction Domains and Motifs; D055503:Protein Multimerization
D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D002352:Carrier Proteins; D018797:Cell Cycle Proteins; D003598:Cytoskeletal Proteins; D029968:Escherichia coli Proteins; C071525:FtsZ protein, Bacteria; D008024:Ligands; D008565:Membrane Proteins; C502032:SlmA protein, E coli; C103795:ZipA protein, E coli