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

作者：Amit Kumar Mukherjee, Chune Cao, Joe Lutkenhaus · 发表于：Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences · 年份：1998 · DOI：10.1073/pnas.95.6.2885 · 被引用次数：261 · 研究领域：Bacterial Genetics and Biotechnology、Bacteriophages and microbial interactions、RNA and protein synthesis mechanisms

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.