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Lookup NU author(s): Professor Waldemar Vollmer
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The tubulin homologue FtsZ is well known for its essential function in bacterial cell division. Here, we show that in Caulobacter crescentus, FtsZ also plays a major role in cell elongation by spatially regulating the location of MurG, which produces the essential lipid II peptidoglycan cell wall precursor. The early assembly of FtsZ into a highly mobile ring-like structure during cell elongation is quickly followed by the recruitment of MurG and a major redirection of peptidoglycan precursor synthesis to the midcell region. These FtsZ-dependent events occur well before cell constriction and contribute to cell elongation. In the absence of FtsZ, MurG fails to accumulate near midcell and cell elongation proceeds unperturbed in appearance by insertion of peptidoglycan material along the entire sidewalls. Evidence suggests that bacteria use both a FtsZ-independent and a FtsZ-dependent mode of peptidoglycan synthesis to elongate, the importance of each mode depending on the timing of FtsZ assembly during elongation. © 2007 The Authors.
Author(s): Aaron M, Charbon G, Lam H, Schwarz H, Vollmer W, Jacobs-Wagner C
Publication type: Article
Publication status: Published
Journal: Molecular Microbiology
Year: 2007
Volume: 64
Issue: 4
Pages: 938-952
ISSN (print): 0950-382X
ISSN (electronic): 1365-2958
Publisher: Wiley-Blackwell Publishing Ltd.
URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2958.2007.05720.x
DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2958.2007.05720.x
PubMed id: 17501919
Notes: See also comment: Scheffers DJ, Molecular Microbiology 2007, 64, 877-880.
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