Bacterial cell division: how the Z ring leads to activation of septal peptidoglycan synthesis

Seminar Details

Host: Josh Wand/Ryland Young Lecture

Time: 4:00 pm

Location: BCBP 108

Seminar Abstract

Cytokinesis in most bacteria depends upon formation of a cytoskeletal element called the Z ring, which recruits the other components of the division machinery to form a divisome. Z ring formation is under spatial and temporal control so that it forms between the segregated chromosomes. In addition, a condensed Z ring is necessary to trigger septal peptidoglycan (sPG) synthesis that divides the cell. Recent evidence indicates that sPG synthesis is triggered by an activator, FtsN, that acts on both sides of the membrane. Short circuiting the activation step can lead to a condensed Z ring indicating that the divisome is a self-enhancing machine.