Asymmetric Cell Division in B. subtilis Involves a Spiral-like Intermediate of the Cytokinetic Protein FtsZ

A fundamental feature of development in the spore-forming bacterium Bacillus subtilis is the switch from medial to asymmetric division. The switch is brought about by a change in the location of the cytokinetic Z ring, which is composed of the tubulin-like protein FtsZ, from the cell middle to the p...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:Cell 2002-04, Vol.109 (2), p.257-266
Main Authors: Ben-Yehuda, Sigal, Losick, Richard
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Bacillus subtilis - cytology
Bacillus subtilis - metabolism
Bacterial Proteins - metabolism
Cell Differentiation - physiology
Cell Division - physiology
Cytoskeletal Proteins
Cytoskeleton - metabolism
Cytoskeleton - ultrastructure
Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial - physiology
Green Fluorescent Proteins
Indicators and Reagents - metabolism
Luminescent Proteins - metabolism
Mutation - genetics
Operon - physiology
Sigma Factor - metabolism
Spores, Bacterial - cytology
Spores, Bacterial - metabolism
Transcription Factors - metabolism
Citations: Items that this one cites
Items that cite this one
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:A fundamental feature of development in the spore-forming bacterium Bacillus subtilis is the switch from medial to asymmetric division. The switch is brought about by a change in the location of the cytokinetic Z ring, which is composed of the tubulin-like protein FtsZ, from the cell middle to the poles during sporulation. We report that the medial Z ring is replaced by a spiral-like filament of FtsZ that grows along the long axis of the cell. We propose that the filament mediates the switch by redeploying FtsZ to the poles. Spiral formation and the switch to polar Z rings are largely caused by a sporulation-specific increase in transcription of the gene for FtsZ and activation of the gene for the FtsZ-associated protein SpoIIE.
ISSN:0092-8674
1097-4172
DOI:10.1016/S0092-8674(02)00698-0