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Updated: May 18, 2026

FtsZ Polymerization Assays: Simple Protocols and Considerations
Published on: November 16, 2013
Assembly of Bacillus subtilis FtsA: effects of pH, ionic strength and nucleotides on FtsA assembly
Parminder Singh1, Ravindra D Makde, Saikat Ghosh
1Department of Biosciences and Bioengineering, Indian Institute of Technology Bombay, Mumbai 400076, India.
Abstract:
In this work, the assembly of purified Bacillus subtilis FtsA was analyzed by several complimentary techniques. FtsA assembled to form filaments and bundles and the polymers disassembled upon dilution. FtsA assembled more efficiently at pH 6.0 as compared to that at pH 7.0 or 8.0 and high salt inhibited the assembly of FtsA. FtsA was found to hydrolyze ATP in vitro; however, neither ATP nor ADP influenced the assembly kinetics of FtsA. Though FtsA is a homologue of actin, cytochalasin D did not inhibit the assembly of FtsA. Interestingly, a hydrophobic molecule, 4,4'-dianilino-1,1'-binaphthyl-5,5'-disulfonic acid, inhibited the assembly of FtsA.
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