The integral membrane FtsW protein and peptidoglycan synthase PBP3 form a subcomplex in Escherichia coli

Microbiology (Reading). 2011 Jan;157(Pt 1):251-259. doi: 10.1099/mic.0.040071-0. Epub 2010 Sep 16.

Abstract

During the cell cycle of rod-shaped bacteria, two morphogenetic processes can be discriminated: length growth of the cylindrical part of the cell and cell division by formation of two new cell poles. The morphogenetic protein complex responsible for the septation during cell division (the divisome) includes class A and class B penicillin-binding proteins (PBPs). In Escherichia coli, the class B PBP3 is specific for septal peptidoglycan synthesis. It requires the putative lipid II flippase FtsW for its localization at the division site and is necessary for the midcell localization of the class A PBP1B. In this work we show direct interactions between FtsW and PBP3 in vivo and in vitro by FRET (Förster resonance energy transfer) and co-immunoprecipitation experiments. These proteins are able to form a discrete complex independently of the other cell-division proteins. The K2-V42 peptide of PBP3 containing the membrane-spanning sequence is a structural determinant sufficient for interaction with FtsW and for PBP3 dimerization. By using a two-hybrid assay, the class A PBP1B was shown to interact with FtsW. However, it could not be detected in the immunoprecipitated FtsW-PBP3 complex. The periplasmic loop 9/10 of FtsW appeared to be involved in the interaction with both PBP1B and PBP3. It might play an important role in the positioning of these proteins within the divisome.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Bacterial Proteins / metabolism*
  • Escherichia coli / chemistry*
  • Fluorescence Resonance Energy Transfer / methods
  • Immunoprecipitation
  • Membrane Proteins / metabolism*
  • Models, Molecular
  • Penicillin-Binding Proteins / metabolism*
  • Protein Interaction Domains and Motifs
  • Protein Interaction Mapping
  • Protein Multimerization*
  • Two-Hybrid System Techniques

Substances

  • Bacterial Proteins
  • Membrane Proteins
  • Penicillin-Binding Proteins
  • FtsW protein, Bacteria