Colocalization and interaction between elongasome and divisome during a preparative cell division phase in Escherichia coli

René van der Ploeg, Jolanda Verheul, Norbert O E Vischer, Svetlana Alexeeva, Eelco Hoogendoorn, Marten Postma, Manuel Banzhaf, Waldemar Vollmer, Tanneke den Blaauwen

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

68 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

The rod-shaped bacterium Escherichia coli grows by insertion of peptidoglycan into the lateral wall during cell elongation and synthesis of new poles during cell division. The monofunctional transpeptidases PBP2 and PBP3 are part of specialized protein complexes called elongasome and divisome, respectively, which catalyse peptidoglycan extension and maturation. Endogenous immunolabelled PBP2 localized in the cylindrical part of the cell as well as transiently at midcell. Using the novel image analysis tool Coli-Inspector to analyse protein localization as function of the bacterial cell age, we compared PBP2 localization with that of other E. coli cell elongation and division proteins including PBP3. Interestingly, the midcell localization of the two transpeptidases overlaps in time during the early period of divisome maturation. Försters Resonance Energy Transfer (FRET) experiments revealed an interaction between PBP2 and PBP3 when both are present at midcell. A decrease in the midcell diameter is visible after 40% of the division cycle indicating that the onset of new cell pole synthesis starts much earlier than previously identified by visual inspection. The data support a new model of the division cycle in which the elongasome and divisome interact to prepare for cell division.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1074-87
Number of pages14
JournalMolecular Microbiology
Volume87
Issue number5
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Mar 2013

Keywords

  • Cell Division
  • Escherichia coli
  • Escherichia coli Proteins
  • Organelles
  • Peptidyl Transferases
  • Protein Binding
  • Protein Transport
  • Journal Article
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Colocalization and interaction between elongasome and divisome during a preparative cell division phase in Escherichia coli'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this