Sensitivity of <em>Deinococcus grandis rodZ</em> deletion mutant to calcium ions results in enhanced spheroplast size

RodZ is a cytoskeletal protein associated with bacterial cell shape. It is a transmembrane protein located on the plasma membrane, and it binds to another cytoskeletal protein MreB. Deinococcus grandis contains a rodZ homolog. Although D. grandis is rod-shaped, it becomes spherical in shape when the rodZ homolog is disrupted. The rodZ deletion mutant was treated with lysozyme to generate spheroplasts. The spheroplasts enlarged in medium containing calcium chloride and penicillin. The rodZ deletion mutant spheroplasts were more sensitive to calcium ions than wild type. Cell and cytoplasm sizes of enlarged spheroplasts of the rodZ deletion mutant tended to be larger than those of wild type. Thus, disruption of rodZ enhances plasma and outer membrane expansion in D. grandis spheroplasts.