Title

Evidence for Divisome Localization Mechanisms Independent of the Min System and SlmA in Escherichia coli

Source Publication (e.g., journal title)

PLOS Genetics

Authors

Matthew W. Bailey, University of Tennessee - KnoxvilleFollow
Paola Bisicchia, University of Oxford
Boyd T. Warren, University of Tennessee - KnoxvilleFollow
David J. Sherratt, University of Oxford
Jaan Mannik, University of Tennessee - KnoxvilleFollow

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

8-7-2014

DOI

10.1371/journal.pgen.1004504

Abstract

Cell division in Escherichia coli starts with assembly of FtsZ protofilaments into a ring-like structure, the Z-ring. Positioning of the Z-ring at midcell is thought to be coordinated by two regulatory systems, nucleoid occlusion and the Min system. In E. coli, nucleoid occlusion is mediated by the SlmA proteins. Here, we address the question of whether there are additional positioning systems that are capable of localizing the E. coli divisome with respect to the cell center. Using quantitative fluorescence imaging we show that slow growing cells lacking functional Min and SlmA nucleoid occlusion systems continue to divide preferentially at midcell. We find that the initial Z-ring assembly occurs over the center of the nucleoid instead of nucleoid-free regions under these conditions. We determine that Z-ring formation begins shortly after the arrival of the Ter macrodomain at the nucleoid center. Removal of either the MatP, ZapB, or ZapA proteins significantly affects the accuracy and precision of Z-ring positioning relative to the nucleoid center in these cells in accordance with the idea that these proteins link the Ter macrodomain and the Z-ring. Interestingly, even in the absence of Min, SlmA, and the putative Ter macrodomain – Z-ring link, there remains a weak midcell positioning bias for the Z-ring. Our work demonstrates that additional Z-ring localization systems are present in E. colithan are known currently. In particular, we identify that the Ter macrodomain acts as a landmark for the Z-ring in the presence of MatP, ZapB and ZapA proteins.

Comments

This article was published openly thanks to the University of Tennessee Open Publishing Support Fund.

Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International license.

Recommended Citation

Bailey MW, Bisicchia P, Warren BT, Sherratt DJ, Männik J (2014) Evidence for Divisome Localization Mechanisms Independent of the Min System and SlmA in Escherichia coli. PLoS Genet 10(8): e1004504. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pgen.1004504