CELL-DIVISION GENE FTSQ IS REQUIRED FOR EFFICIENT SPORULATION BUT NOTGROWTH AND VIABILITY IN STREPTOMYCES-COELICOLOR A3(2)

We show that the cell division gene ftsQ of Streptomyces coelicolor A3 (2) is dispensable for grow th and viability but is needed during deve lopment for the efficient conversion of aerial filaments into spores. Combined with our previous demonstration that ftsZ of S. coelicolor is not needed for viability, these findings suggest that cell division h as been largely co-opted for development in this filamentous bacterium . This makes S. coelicolor an advantageous system for the study of cel l division genes.