FtsK is critical for the assembly of the unique divisome complex of the FtsZ-less Chlamydia trachomatis
Chlamydia trachomatis serovar L2 (Ct), an obligate intracellular bacterium that does not encode FtsZ, divides by a polarized budding process. In the absence of FtsZ, we show that FtsK, a chromosomal translocase, is critical for divisome assembly in Ct. Chlamydial FtsK forms discrete foci at the sept...
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eLife Sciences Publications Ltd
2025-04-01
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| Online Access: | https://elifesciences.org/articles/104199 |
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| author | McKenna Harpring Junghoon Lee Guangming Zhong Scot P Ouellette John V Cox |
| author_facet | McKenna Harpring Junghoon Lee Guangming Zhong Scot P Ouellette John V Cox |
| author_sort | McKenna Harpring |
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| description | Chlamydia trachomatis serovar L2 (Ct), an obligate intracellular bacterium that does not encode FtsZ, divides by a polarized budding process. In the absence of FtsZ, we show that FtsK, a chromosomal translocase, is critical for divisome assembly in Ct. Chlamydial FtsK forms discrete foci at the septum and at the base of the progenitor mother cell, and our data indicate that FtsK foci at the base of the mother cell mark the location of nascent divisome complexes that form at the site where a daughter cell will emerge in the next round of division. The divisome in Ct has a hybrid composition, containing elements of the divisome and elongasome from other bacteria, and FtsK is recruited to nascent divisomes prior to the other chlamydial divisome proteins assayed, including the PBP2 and PBP3 transpeptidases, and MreB and MreC. Knocking down FtsK prevents divisome assembly in Ct and inhibits cell division and septal peptidoglycan synthesis. We further show that MreB does not function like FtsZ and serve as a scaffold for the assembly of the Ct divisome. Rather, MreB is one of the last proteins recruited to the chlamydial divisome, and it is necessary for the formation of septal peptidoglycan rings. Our studies illustrate the critical role of chlamydial FtsK in coordinating divisome assembly and peptidoglycan synthesis in this obligate intracellular bacterial pathogen. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-eb1322b092be4fbbaf9c8503f85e8134 |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2050-084X |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-04-01 |
| publisher | eLife Sciences Publications Ltd |
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| spelling | doaj-art-eb1322b092be4fbbaf9c8503f85e81342025-08-20T02:09:08ZengeLife Sciences Publications LtdeLife2050-084X2025-04-011310.7554/eLife.104199FtsK is critical for the assembly of the unique divisome complex of the FtsZ-less Chlamydia trachomatisMcKenna Harpring0https://orcid.org/0009-0007-4178-244XJunghoon Lee1Guangming Zhong2Scot P Ouellette3https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3721-6839John V Cox4https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6177-0223Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Biochemistry. University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, United StatesDepartment of Pathology, Microbiology, and Immunology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, United StatesDepartment of Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics, University of Texas Health San Antonio, San Antonio, United StatesDepartment of Pathology, Microbiology, and Immunology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, United StatesDepartment of Microbiology, Immunology, and Biochemistry. University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, United StatesChlamydia trachomatis serovar L2 (Ct), an obligate intracellular bacterium that does not encode FtsZ, divides by a polarized budding process. In the absence of FtsZ, we show that FtsK, a chromosomal translocase, is critical for divisome assembly in Ct. Chlamydial FtsK forms discrete foci at the septum and at the base of the progenitor mother cell, and our data indicate that FtsK foci at the base of the mother cell mark the location of nascent divisome complexes that form at the site where a daughter cell will emerge in the next round of division. The divisome in Ct has a hybrid composition, containing elements of the divisome and elongasome from other bacteria, and FtsK is recruited to nascent divisomes prior to the other chlamydial divisome proteins assayed, including the PBP2 and PBP3 transpeptidases, and MreB and MreC. Knocking down FtsK prevents divisome assembly in Ct and inhibits cell division and septal peptidoglycan synthesis. We further show that MreB does not function like FtsZ and serve as a scaffold for the assembly of the Ct divisome. Rather, MreB is one of the last proteins recruited to the chlamydial divisome, and it is necessary for the formation of septal peptidoglycan rings. Our studies illustrate the critical role of chlamydial FtsK in coordinating divisome assembly and peptidoglycan synthesis in this obligate intracellular bacterial pathogen.https://elifesciences.org/articles/104199Chlamydia trachomatisdivisomeFtsKchromosomal translocase |
| spellingShingle | McKenna Harpring Junghoon Lee Guangming Zhong Scot P Ouellette John V Cox FtsK is critical for the assembly of the unique divisome complex of the FtsZ-less Chlamydia trachomatis eLife Chlamydia trachomatis divisome FtsK chromosomal translocase |
| title | FtsK is critical for the assembly of the unique divisome complex of the FtsZ-less Chlamydia trachomatis |
| title_full | FtsK is critical for the assembly of the unique divisome complex of the FtsZ-less Chlamydia trachomatis |
| title_fullStr | FtsK is critical for the assembly of the unique divisome complex of the FtsZ-less Chlamydia trachomatis |
| title_full_unstemmed | FtsK is critical for the assembly of the unique divisome complex of the FtsZ-less Chlamydia trachomatis |
| title_short | FtsK is critical for the assembly of the unique divisome complex of the FtsZ-less Chlamydia trachomatis |
| title_sort | ftsk is critical for the assembly of the unique divisome complex of the ftsz less chlamydia trachomatis |
| topic | Chlamydia trachomatis divisome FtsK chromosomal translocase |
| url | https://elifesciences.org/articles/104199 |
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