The nucleotide sequence of the essential cell-division gene ftsZ of Escherichia coli

The nucleotide sequence of a 1.8-kb fragment of Escherichia coli DNA containing the essential cell division gene ftsZ is reported. The FtsZ protein has an Mr of 40294 and has 23% charged residues with a calculated isoelectric point of 4.9. The codon usage of the ftsZ gene reflects that of a highly expressed gene. Also located on this DNA fragment is the 3' end of the ftsA gene and the 5' end of the envA gene. These designations were confirmed by locating Tn5 insertions within the ends of these genes that inactivate each of these genes. A potential promoter for ftsZ overlapped the 3' end of the ftsA gene. A Tn5 insertion was located within the 3' end of the ftsA and within this potential promoter. No transcription terminators were evident between ftsA and ftsZ or between ftsZ and envA.