FtsN maintains active septal cell wall synthesis by forming a processive complex with the septum-specific peptidoglycan synthases in E. coli

• DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-33404-8
• Publication Date: 2022-09-30T13:09:52Z
• Authors: Zhixin Lyu; Atsushi Yahashiri; Xinxing Yang; Joshua W. McCausland; Gabriela M. Kaus; Ryan McQuillen; David S. Weiss; Jie Xiao
• Keywords: FtsZ; Lipid II; Treadmilling

Abstract FtsN plays an essential role in promoting the inward synthesis of septal peptidoglycan (sPG) by FtsWI complex during bacterial cell division. How it achieves this is unclear. Here we use single-molecule tracking to investigate FtsN’s dynamics sPG E. coli . We show that molecules move processively at ~9 nm s −1 , same as engaged (termed sPG-track), but much slower than ~30 speed inactive coupled FtsZ’s treadmilling FtsZ-track). Importantly, processive movement exclusively and required maintain active FtsWI. Our findings indicate part complex, while often described a “trigger” for initiation wall constriction, must remain activity.