Inhibition of FtsZ polymerization by SulA, an inhibitor of septation in Escherichia coli

AUTOR(ES)

Mukherjee, Amit

FONTE

The National Academy of Sciences

RESUMO

The bacterial cell division protein FtsZ assembles into the cytokinetic Z ring that directs cytokinesis in prokaryotes. In Escherichia coli the formation of the Z ring is prevented by induction of the cell division inhibitor SulA (SfiA), a component of the SOS response. Here we show that a MalE-SulA fusion that retains this inhibitory function in vivo inhibits the GTPase activity and polymerization of FtsZ in vitro. MalE-SulA10, which does not block Z ring formation in vivo, is unable to inhibit the GTPase activity and polymerization in vitro. Furthermore, FtsZ114, which is refractory to SulA in vivo, is not inhibited by MalE-SulA. These results indicate that SulA blocks Z ring formation by blocking FtsZ polymerization.

Documentos Relacionados

• Role of the SulB (FtsZ) protein in division inhibition during the SOS response in Escherichia coli: FtsZ stabilizes the inhibitor SulA in maxicells.
• Bacterial SOS Checkpoint Protein SulA Inhibits Polymerization of Purified FtsZ Cell Division Protein
• Mutations in ftsZ that confer resistance to SulA affect the interaction of FtsZ with GTP.
• Crystal structure of the SOS cell division inhibitor SulA and in complex with FtsZ
• Analysis of ftsZ mutations that confer resistance to the cell division inhibitor SulA (SfiA).