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Activation of the Escherichia coli cell division protein FtsZ by a low‐affinity interaction with monovalent cations
Author(s) -
Tadros Michael,
González José Manuel,
Rivas Germán,
Vicente Miguel,
Mingorance Jesús
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
febs letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.593
H-Index - 257
eISSN - 1873-3468
pISSN - 0014-5793
DOI - 10.1016/j.febslet.2006.07.083
Subject(s) - ftsz , rubidium , chemistry , polymerization , nucleotide , gtpase , potassium , monomer , sodium , biophysics , hydrolysis , biochemistry , escherichia coli , cell division , polymer , cell , organic chemistry , biology , gene
We have investigated the activation of FtsZ by monovalent cations. FtsZ polymerization was dependent on the concentrations of protein and monovalent salts, and was accompanied by the uptake of a single ion per monomer added. The affinity and the specificity for the cation were low. Potassium, ammonium, rubidium or sodium activated FtsZ to different extents. Electron microscopy showed that polymers formed with either rubidium, or potassium, were very similar, as were their nucleotide turnover rates. The GTPase activity was lower with rubidium than with potassium, indicating that nucleotide exchange is independent of nucleotide hydrolysis. Control of polymerization by binding of a low affinity cation might govern the dynamic behavior of the FtsZ polymers.