Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Experiment Videos

Unexpected twist to the Z ring.

Joe Lutkenhaus1

  • 1Department of Microbiology, Molecular Genetics and Immunology, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS 66160, USA.

Developmental Cell
|May 23, 2002
PubMed
Summary

Bacillus subtilis cell division shifts the Z ring from midcell to the pole. This process involves a spiral intermediate, revealing key sporulation functions during development.

Related Concept Videos

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Direct interaction between MreB and the RodA-PBP2 complex organizes lateral cell wall synthesis in <i>Escherichia coli</i>.

mLife·2026
Same author

The SOS response-induced cell division inhibitor YneA interacts with FtsW to block septal peptidoglycan synthesis in Bacillus subtilis.

The Journal of biological chemistry·2026
Same author

ZapA uses a two-pronged mechanism to facilitate Z ring formation in <i>Escherichia coli</i>.

mLife·2026
Same author

ZapC crosslinks FtsZ filaments through a dual-binding mechanism modulated by the intrinsically disordered linker of FtsZ in <i>Escherichia coli</i>.

mBio·2025
Same author

The divisome is a self-enhancing machine in Escherichia coli and Caulobacter crescentus.

Nature communications·2024
Same author

Widespread photosynthesis reaction centre barrel proteins are necessary for haloarchaeal cell division.

Nature microbiology·2024

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Cell Biology
  • Developmental Biology

Background:

  • Cell division in Bacillus subtilis is a complex process.
  • The cytokinetic Z ring plays a crucial role in cell division.
  • Understanding Z ring dynamics is key to deciphering bacterial development.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the spatial dynamics of the Z ring during Bacillus subtilis development.
  • To identify the specific sporulation functions involved in Z ring relocation.
  • To elucidate the intermediate steps in the Z ring's switch from midcell to pole.

Main Methods:

  • Utilizing time-lapse photography to observe Z ring behavior.
  • Employing a fusion protein (FtsZ-GFP) for visualization of the Z ring.
  • Analyzing the localization patterns and intermediate structures during cell division.

Main Results:

  • Observed a dynamic switch in Z ring localization from midcell to the cell pole.
  • Identified a spiral intermediate during the Z ring's positional transition.
  • Correlated this dynamic process with specific sporulation-related functions.

Conclusions:

  • The relocation of the Z ring is a critical event in Bacillus subtilis development.
  • The spiral intermediate represents a key transitional state in Z ring positioning.
  • This study provides insights into the coordination of cell division and sporulation.

Related Experiment Videos