Project description:The cell division protein SepF aligns polymers formed by the key cell division protein FtsZ during synthesis of the (Fts)Z-ring at midcell, the first stage in cytokinesis. In addition, SepF acts as a membrane anchor for the Z-ring. SepF is conserved in Gram-positive and cyanobacteria. Recently, it was shown that SepF overproduction in Mycobacterium smegmatis blocks cell division. Here we investigated this in more detail using the Gram-positive model system Bacillus subtilis. Surprisingly, overproduction of SepF does not interfere with assembly of the Z-ring, but blocks assembly of the late cell division proteins responsible for septum synthesis. Transposon mutagenesis suggested that SepF overproduction inactivates the WalKR two-component system involved in cell division. Indeed, SepF overproduction impairs WalK localization, possibly because septal WalK localization requires late cell division proteins. Unexpectedly, transcriptome analysis showed that WalKR activity was not affected. Another surprise was that the cell division phenotype occurs when SepF does not bind to FtsZ. Further analyses provided an explanation for the contradictory transposon and transcriptome results, and suggested that SepF competes with other cell division proteins for binding to FtsZ. Our data show that an imbalance in early cell division proteins can interfere with recruitment of late cell division proteins.
Project description:By chance, we discovered a window of extracellular magnesium (Mg2+) availability that modulates Bacillus subtilis division frequency without affecting growth rate. In this window, cells grown with excess Mg2+ produce shorter cells than those grown in unsupplemented medium. The Mg2+-responsive adjustment in cell length occurs in both rich and minimal media and in domesticated and undomesticated strains. Of other divalent cations tested, manganese (Mn2+) and zinc (Zn2+) also resulted in cell shortening, but only at concentrations that affected growth. Cell length decreased proportionally with increasing Mg2+ from 0.2 mM to 4.0 mM, with little or no detectable change in labile, intracellular Mg2+ based on a riboswitch reporter. Cells grown in excess Mg2+ had fewer nucleoids and possessed more FtsZ-rings per unit cell length, consistent with increased division frequency. Remarkably, when shifting cells from unsupplemented to supplemented medium, more than half of the cell length decrease occurred in the first 10 min, consistent with rapid division onset. Relative to unsupplemented cells, cells growing at steady-state with excess Mg2+ showed enhanced expression of a large number of SigB-regulated genes and activation of the Fur, MntR, and Zur regulons. Thus, by manipulating the availability of one nutrient, we were able to uncouple growth rate from division frequency and identify transcriptional changes suggesting cell division is accompanied by the general stress response and an enhanced demand to sequester and/or increase uptake of iron, Mn2+, and Zn2+.
Project description:One of the first steps in bacterial cell division is the polymerization of the tubulin-like protein FtsZ at midcell. The dynamics of FtsZ polymerization is regulated by a set of proteins among which ZapA. A zapA mutation does not result in a clear phenotype in Bacillus subtilis. In this study we used a synthetic-lethal screen to find genes that become essential when ZapA is absent. Three transposon insertions were found in yvcL. Deletion of yvcL in a wild type background had only a mild effect on growth, but a yvcL zapA double mutant is very filamentous and sick. This filamentation is caused by a strong reduction in FtsZ polymerization, suggesting that YvcL is involved in an early stage of cell division. YvcL is 25 % identical and 50 % similar to the Streptomyces coelicolor transcription factor WhiA. WhiA is required for septation of aerial hyphae during sporulation. Using GFP fusions, we show that YvcL localizes at the nucleoid. Surprisingly, transcriptome analyses in combination with a ChIP on chip assay did not provide clear evidence that YvcL functions as a transcription factor. To gain more insight into the function of YvcL, we searched for suppressors of the filamentous phenotype of a ∆yvcL ∆zapA mutant. Transposon insertions in gtaB and pgcA restored normal cell division of the double mutant. The corresponding proteins have been implemented in the metabolic sensing of cell division. We conclude that YvcL (WhiA) is involved in cell division in B. subtilis through an as yet unknown mechanism.
Project description:One of the first steps in bacterial cell division is the polymerization of the tubulin-like protein FtsZ at midcell. The dynamics of FtsZ polymerization is regulated by a set of proteins among which ZapA. A zapA mutation does not result in a clear phenotype in Bacillus subtilis. In this study we used a synthetic-lethal screen to find genes that become essential when ZapA is absent. Three transposon insertions were found in yvcL. Deletion of yvcL in a wild type background had only a mild effect on growth, but a yvcL zapA double mutant is very filamentous and sick. This filamentation is caused by a strong reduction in FtsZ polymerization, suggesting that YvcL is involved in an early stage of cell division. YvcL is 25 % identical and 50 % similar to the Streptomyces coelicolor transcription factor WhiA. WhiA is required for septation of aerial hyphae during sporulation. Using GFP fusions, we show that YvcL localizes at the nucleoid. Surprisingly, transcriptome analyses in combination with a ChIP on chip assay did not provide clear evidence that YvcL functions as a transcription factor. To gain more insight into the function of YvcL, we searched for suppressors of the filamentous phenotype of a M-bM-^HM-^FyvcL M-bM-^HM-^FzapA mutant. Transposon insertions in gtaB and pgcA restored normal cell division of the double mutant. The corresponding proteins have been implemented in the metabolic sensing of cell division. We conclude that YvcL (WhiA) is involved in cell division in B. subtilis through an as yet unknown mechanism. Comparing wild tpe Bascillus subtilus (n=3) with Bascillus Subtilis KS400 (n=2) and Bascillus subtilis KS696 (n=2)
Project description:Identification of the specific WalR (YycF) binding regions on the B. subtilis chromosome during exponential and phosphate starvation growth phases. The data serves to extend the WalRK regulon in Bacillus subtilis and its role in cell wall metabolism, as well as implying a role in several other cellular processes.
Project description:This series of experiments was designed to identify the program of gene transcription for a single differentiating cell type during sporulation in Bacillus subtilis. The mother cell is one of two cell types generated by asymmetric division of sporulating cells approximately two hours after initiation of sporulation. The program is governed by a hierarchical cascade consisting of the transcription factors: sigmaE, sigmaK, GerE, GerR (YlbO) and SpoIIID. The characterization of the sigmaE regulon was reported in Eichenberger et al. (2003), J. Mol. Biol. 327, 945-972. Here we report the data for sigmaK, GerE, GerR and SpoIIID.
Project description:Coordination of chromosome segregation and cytokinesis is crucial for efficient cell proliferation. In Bacillus subtilis the nucleoid occlusion protein Noc protects chromosomes by associating with the chromosome and preventing cell division in its vicinity. Using protein localization, ChAP-on-Chip and bioinformatics, we have identified a consensus Noc-binding DNA sequence (NBS), and show that Noc is targeted to about 70 discrete regions scattered around the chromosome, though absent from a large region around the replication terminus. Purified Noc bound specifically to an NBS in vitro. NBSs inserted near the replication terminus bound Noc-YFP and caused a delay in cell division. An autonomous plasmid carrying an NBS recruited Noc-YFP and conferred a severe Noc-dependent inhibition of cell division. This shows that Noc is a potent inhibitor of division but that its activity is strictly localized by interaction with NBS sites in vivo. We propose that Noc not only serves as a spatial regulator of cell division to protect the nucleoid, but also a timing device with an important role in the co-ordination of chromosome segregation and cell division.
Project description:This series of experiments was designed to identify the program of gene transcription for a single differentiating cell type during sporulation in Bacillus subtilis. The mother cell is one of two cell types generated by asymmetric division of sporulating cells approximately two hours after initiation of sporulation. The program is governed by a hierarchical cascade consisting of the transcription factors: sigmaE, sigmaK, GerE, GerR (YlbO) and SpoIIID. The characterization of the sigmaE regulon was reported in Eichenberger et al. (2003), J. Mol. Biol. 327, 945-972. Here we report the data for sigmaK, GerE, GerR and SpoIIID.
Project description:To investigate the possible genes regulated by the DNA binding protein MraZ The bacterial division and cell wall (dcw) cluster is a highly conserved region of the genome which encodes several essential cell division factors including the central divisome protein FtsZ. Understanding the regulation of this region is key to our overall understanding of the division process. mraZ is found at the 5’ end of the dcw cluster and previous studies have described MraZ as a sequence-specific DNA binding protein. In this article, we investigate MraZ to elucidate its role in Bacillus subtilis. Through our investigation, we demonstrate that increased levels of MraZ result in lethal filamentation due to repression of its own operon (mraZ-mraW-ftsL-pbpB). We observe rescue of filamentation upon decoupling ftsL expression, but not other genes in the operon, from MraZ control. Our data suggests that regulation of the mra operon may be an alternative way for cells to quickly arrest cytokinesis potentially during entry into stationary phase and in the event of DNA replication arrest. Furthermore, through timelapse microscopy we were able to identify that overexpression of mraZ or depletion of FtsL results in de-condensation of the FtsZ ring (Z-ring). Using fluorescent D-amino acid labelling, we also observed that coordinated peptidoglycan insertion at division site is dysregulated in the absence of FtsL. Thus, we reveal the precise role of FtsL is in Z-ring maturation and focusing septal peptidoglycan synthesis.