In Silico Druggability Assessment of Escherichia coli FtsQ Reveals Tractable PPI Interfaces in the Divisome

Background/Objectives: Due to the widespread problem of antimicrobial resistance (AMR), there is an urgent need to identify new antibacterial targets that act through mechanisms distinct from those of existing antibiotics. One of these targets is the essential cell division protein FtsQ, which is a central hub of the Gram-negative divisome, but the druggability of its extensive protein-protein interaction (PPI) interfaces remains poorly defined. Here, we present a comprehensive structure-based in silico characterization of Escherichia coli FtsQ aimed at identifying and prioritizing druggable regions for PPI modulation. Methods: We analyzed E. coli FtsQ in both apo and complexed states (FtsQB, FtsQL, and FtsQBL) using a combination of pocket-mapping tools (FTMap and SiteMap), evolutionary conservation analysis (ConSurf), and structure property assessment (BLAST, ProBiS) to map and evaluate potential binding pockets of FtsQ protein. Results: Eight potential binding sites were predicted across the β and POTRA domains of FtsQ. One previously unreported site within the POTRA domain was prioritized as a candidate site, characterized by favorable druggability scores, strong evolutionary conservation, and a putative role in the FtsQ-FtsW/FtsN/FtsI interaction network. In contrast, two highly conserved sites at the FtsQ-FtsB/FtsL interaction interface were structurally flat, indicating limited suitability for classical small-molecule binding and greater compatibility with alternative modalities such as macrocycles or peptidomimetics. Conclusions: Although FtsQ lacks deep canonical binding pockets, this study proposes several conserved and potentially tractable regions as candidate sites, supporting its potential as a non-classical but promising antibacterial target for disrupting bacterial cytokinesis.