The structure, function, and regulation of Mycobacterium FtsZ
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Updated: May 19, 2026

FtsZ Polymerization Assays: Simple Protocols and Considerations
Published on: November 16, 2013
Weiling Hong1, Wanyan Deng, Jianping Xie
1Institute of Modern Biopharmaceuticals, State Key Laboratory Breeding Base of Eco-Environment and Bio-Resource of the Three Gorges Area, School of Life Sciences, Southwest University, Beibei, Chongqing, China.
Abstract:
FtsZ is a widely distributed major cytoskeletal protein involved in the archaea and bacteria cell division. It is the most critical component in the division machinery and similar to tubulin in structure and function. Four major roles of FtsZ have been characterized: cell elongation, GTPase, cell division, and bacterial cytoskeleton. FtsZ subunits can be assembled into protofilaments. Mycobacteria consist of a large family of medical and environmental important bacteria, such as M. leprae, M. tuberculosis, the pathogen of leprosy, and tuberculosis. Structure, function, and regulation of mycobacteria FtsZ are summarized here, together with the implication of FtsZ as potential novel drug target for anti-tuberculosis therapeutics.
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