Multiple regions along the Escherichia coli FtsK protein are implicated in cell division

Abstract

Summary: Escherichia coli FtsK is a large 1329-aa integral membrane protein, which links cell division and chromosome segregation through the respective activities of its 200-aa amino-terminal domain, FtsKN, and its 500-aa carboxy-terminal domain, FtsKC. A long 600-aa linker, FtsKL, connects these two domains. Only FtsKN is essential for cell division. However, previous observations suggested that the cytoplasmic part of FtsK also participates in the process of septation. Here, we identify two distinct regions within FtsKL, FtsK179-331 and FtsK332-641, which together with FtsKN, are required for normal septation. We discuss how the implication of multiple regions along the FtsK protein in cell division could participate in the co-ordination of this process with the last stages of chromosome segregation. © 2010 Blackwell Publishing Ltd.