4P1M

The structure of Escherichia coli ZapA

Summary for 4P1M

• Entry DOI: 10.2210/pdb4p1m/pdb
• Descriptor: Cell division protein ZapA, CHLORIDE ION (3 entities in total)
• Functional Keywords: cell division, ftsz filament bundling, coiled-coil, cell cycle
• Biological source: Escherichia coli
• Total number of polymer chains: 2
• Total formula weight: 28547.33

Authors

Kimber, M.S.,Roach, E.J.,Khursigara, C.M. (deposition date: 2014-02-26, release date: 2014-07-16, Last modification date: 2023-09-27)

Primary citation

Roach, E.J.,Kimber, M.S.,Khursigara, C.M.
Crystal Structure and Site-directed Mutational Analysis Reveals Key Residues Involved in Escherichia coli ZapA Function.
J.Biol.Chem., 289:23276-23286, 2014

PubMed Abstract: FtsZ is an essential cell division protein in Escherichia coli, and its localization, filamentation, and bundling at the mid-cell are required for Z-ring stability. Once assembled, the Z-ring recruits a series of proteins that comprise the bacterial divisome. Zaps (FtsZ-associated proteins) stabilize the Z-ring by increasing lateral interactions between individual filaments, bundling FtsZ to provide a scaffold for divisome assembly. The x-ray crystallographic structure of E. coli ZapA was determined, identifying key structural differences from the existing ZapA structure from Pseudomonas aeruginosa, including a charged α-helix on the globular domains of the ZapA tetramer. Key helix residues in E. coli ZapA were modified using site-directed mutagenesis. These ZapA variants significantly decreased FtsZ bundling in protein sedimentation assays when compared with WT ZapA proteins. Electron micrographs of ZapA-bundled FtsZ filaments showed the modified ZapA variants altered the number of FtsZ filaments per bundle. These in vitro results were corroborated in vivo by expressing the ZapA variants in an E. coli ΔzapA strain. In vivo, ZapA variants that altered FtsZ bundling showed an elongated phenotype, indicating improper cell division. Our findings highlight the importance of key ZapA residues that influence the extent of FtsZ bundling and that ultimately affect Z-ring formation in dividing cells.

PubMed: 25002581
DOI: 10.1074/jbc.M114.561928

Experimental method

X-RAY DIFFRACTION (1.95 Å)