Publications [#156450] of Harold P. Erickson

Papers Published

1. M Osawa, DE Anderson, HP Erickson, Reconstitution of contractile FtsZ rings in liposomes., Science (New York, N.Y.), United States, vol. 320 no. 5877 (May, 2008), pp. 792-4, ISSN 1095-9203
   (last updated on 2009/02/12)

   Abstract:
   FtsZ is a tubulin homolog and the major cytoskeletal protein in bacterial cell division. It assembles into the Z ring, which contains FtsZ and a dozen other division proteins, and constricts to divide the cell. We have constructed a membrane-targeted FtsZ (FtsZ-mts) by splicing an amphipathic helix to its C terminus. When mixed with lipid vesicles, FtsZ-mts was incorporated into the interior of some tubular vesicles. There it formed multiple Z rings that could move laterally in both directions along the length of the liposome and coalesce into brighter Z rings. Brighter Z rings produced visible constrictions in the liposome, suggesting that FtsZ itself can assemble the Z ring and generate a force. No other proteins were needed for assembly and force generation.

   Keywords:
   Bacterial Proteins • Cell Membrane • Cytoskeletal Proteins • Escherichia coli • Escherichia coli Proteins • Liposomes • Membrane Proteins • Protein Binding • Protein Transport • Recombinant Proteins • genetics • physiology*