ONLY THE N-TERMINAL DOMAIN OF FTSK FUNCTIONS IN CELL-DIVISION

Deletion of ftsK results in the inhibition of cell division, but this inhibition can be reversed by a plasmid carrying only the first simila r to 17% of ftsK. The division block can be suppressed in most mutants by deletion of dacA, which codes for the D-alanine:D-alanine carboxyp eptidase PBP5, or in all mutants by overexpression of ftsN. Overexpres sion of ftsK inhibits cell division and the formation of FtsZ rings. T his division block is not due to the induction of either the SOS or th e heat shock regulons.