Coordination of peptidoglycan synthesis and outer membrane constriction during Escherichia coli cell division
Abstract
To maintain cellular structure and integrity during division, Gram-negative bacteria must carefully coordinate constriction of a tripartite cell envelope of inner membrane (IM), peptidoglycan (PG) and outer membrane (OM). It has remained enigmatic how this is accomplished. Here, we show that envelope machines facilitating septal PG synthesis (PBP1B-LpoB complex) and OM constriction (Tol system) are physically and functionally coordinated via YbgF, renamed CpoB (Coordinator of PG synthesis and OM constriction, associated with PBP1B). CpoB localizes to the septum concurrent with PBP1B-LpoB and Tol at the onset of constriction, interacts with both complexes, and regulates PBP1B activity in response to Tol energy state. This coordination links PG synthesis with OM invagination and imparts a unique mode of bifunctional PG synthase regulation by selectively modulating PBP1B cross-linking activity. Coordination of the PBP1B and Tol machines by CpoB contributes to effective PBP1B function in vivo and maintenance of cell envelope integrity during division.
Article and author information
Author details
Reviewing Editor
- Gisela Storz, National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, United States
Version history
- Received: February 20, 2015
- Accepted: May 6, 2015
- Accepted Manuscript published: May 7, 2015 (version 1)
- Accepted Manuscript updated: May 8, 2015 (version 2)
- Version of Record published: June 8, 2015 (version 3)
Copyright
© 2015, Gray et al.
This article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License permitting unrestricted use and redistribution provided that the original author and source are credited.
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