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Involvement of FtsZ in coupling of nucleoid separation with septation
Author(s) -
Tétart Françoise,
Albigot Renaud,
Confer Annie,
Mulder Egbert,
Bouché JeanPierre
Publication year - 1992
Publication title -
molecular microbiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.857
H-Index - 247
eISSN - 1365-2958
pISSN - 0950-382X
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2958.1992.tb01509.x
Subject(s) - ftsz , nucleoid , biology , cell division , microbiology and biotechnology , escherichia coli , cytoskeleton , dnaa , dna replication , genetics , biophysics , cell , dna , gene , origin of replication
Summary The cell‐cycle parameters of an Escherichia coli strain expressing essential division gene ftsZ at one‐fifth of its normal level, because of antisense regulation by DicF RNA, have been analysed. Inhibition of FtsZ expression affects neither the generation time nor the replication initiation mass, the C period, or the constriction period, but it does dramatically retard the initiation of constriction relative to replication termination. Separation of the nucleoids is equally postponed, indicating that division is not coupled to termination of replication, but to partitioning. The severe inhibition of nucleoid separation by DicF RNA, and its suppression by overproduction of FtsZ, suggest a role for FtsZ in the control of separation, and consequently in the coupling of separation and division. We suggest that the normal pattern of nucleoid separation previously found in cells deficient in ftsZ function was a consequence of the loss of a negative effect exerted by FtsZ on separation. In agreement with this view, we find that nucleoid separation is temporarily inhibited after arrest of FtsZ synthesis, but is later resumed as FtsZ is further diluted into the elongating filaments.