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The Min system is not required for precise placement of the midcell Z ring in Bacillus subtilis
Author(s) -
Migocki Margaret D.,
Freeman Marcelle K.,
Wake R. Gerry,
Harry Elizabeth J.
Publication year - 2002
Publication title -
embo reports
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 4.584
H-Index - 184
eISSN - 1469-3178
pISSN - 1469-221X
DOI - 10.1093/embo-reports/kvf233
Subject(s) - bacillus subtilis , ring (chemistry) , cell division , microbiology and biotechnology , division (mathematics) , chemistry , cell , biophysics , biology , bacteria , biochemistry , genetics , organic chemistry , arithmetic , mathematics
In bacteria, the Min system plays a role in positioning the midcell division site by inhibiting the formation of the earliest precursor of cell division, the Z ring, at the cell poles. However, whether the Min system also contributes to establishing the precise placement of the midcell Z ring is unresolved. We show that the Z ring is positioned at midcell with a high degree of precision in Bacillus subtilis , and this is completely maintained in the absence of the Min system. Min is therefore not required for correct midcell Z ring placement in B. subtilis . Our results strongly support the idea that the primary role of the Min system is to block Z ring formation at the cell poles and that a separate mechanism must exist to ensure cell division occurs precisely at midcell.