Localizing cell division in spherical Escherichia coli by nucleoid occlusion

FEMS Microbiol Lett. 2003 Sep 26;226(2):209-14. doi: 10.1016/S0378-1097(03)00580-9.

Abstract

The spatial relationship between FtsZ localization and nucleoid segregation was followed in Escherichia coli thyA cells, made spheroidal by brief exposure to mecillinam and after manipulating chromosome replication time using changes ('steps') in thymine concentration [Zaritsky et al., Microbiology 145 (1999) 1015-1022]. In such cells, fluorescent FtsZ-GFP arcs did not overlap the DAPI-stained nucleoids. It is concluded that FtsZ rings are deposited between segregating nucleoids, consistent with the nucleoid occlusion model [Woldringh et al., J. Bacteriol. 176 (1994) 6030-6038].

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Bacterial Proteins / genetics
  • Bacterial Proteins / metabolism
  • Cell Division*
  • Chromosomes, Bacterial / metabolism*
  • Cytoskeletal Proteins*
  • Escherichia coli / cytology*
  • Escherichia coli / growth & development
  • Escherichia coli / metabolism
  • Fluorescent Dyes / analysis
  • Green Fluorescent Proteins
  • Indoles / analysis
  • Luminescent Proteins / genetics
  • Microscopy, Fluorescence
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins / genetics
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins / metabolism

Substances

  • Bacterial Proteins
  • Cytoskeletal Proteins
  • Fluorescent Dyes
  • FtsZ protein, Bacteria
  • Indoles
  • Luminescent Proteins
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins
  • Green Fluorescent Proteins
  • DAPI