MICB 201 Chapter Notes - Chapter 04-1: Asymmetric Cell Division, Ftsz, Bdellovibrio
Document Summary
Chapter 6: describe the role of ftsz in cell division. Ftsz is a protein that is involved in the cell division of most prokaryotes. It is a protein that acts as a subunit and it assembles as a ring when the dividing cell is expanding and its genetic material is copied. The ring is assembled between the duplicated nucleoids the nucleoids are on opposite poles and they are basically identical. Anchored to the inner surface of the cm, the ftsz ring contracts by shedding subunits into the cytoplasm; pulling the membrane inward eventually pinching them off. For organisms without a rigid cell wall, they just pinch off their membrane easy. For organisms with a rigid cell wall, the situation is more variable for cell division. The ftsz ring not only pinches off the membranes but it serves also as a scaffold for the synthesis of new cell wall material at the division site.
