ROLE OF THE C-TERMINUS OF FTSK IN ESCHERICHIA-COLI CHROMOSOME SEGREGATION

FtsK is essential for Escherichia coli cell division. We report that c ells lacking the C terminus of FtsK are defective in chromosome segreg ation as well as septation, often exhibiting asymmetrically positioned nucleoids and Large anucleate regions. Combining the corresponding tr uncated ftsK gene with a mukB null mutation resulted in a synthetic le thal phenotype, When the truncated ftsK was combined with a minCDE del etion, chains of minicells were generated, many of which contained DNA , These results suggest that the C terminus of FtsK has an important r ole in chromosome partitioning.