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EMBO reports 3, 12, 1163–1167 (2002)
doi:10.1093/embo-reports/kvf233
Published online: December 2002
The Min system is not required for precise placement of the midcell Z ring in Bacillus subtilis
Margaret D. Migocki, Marcelle K. Freeman, R. Gerry Wake & Elizabeth J. Harry
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School of Molecular and Microbial Biosciences, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
To whom correspondence should be addressed
Elizabeth J. Harry Tel: +61 2 9351 6030; Fax: +61 2 9351 4726; l.harry@biochem.usyd.edu.au
Received 25 July 2002; Accepted 20 September 2002.
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Abstract
In bacteria, the Min system plays a role in positioning the midcell division site by inhibiting the formation of the earliest precursor of cell division, the Z ring, at the cell poles. However, whether the Min system also contributes to establishing the precise placement of the midcell Z ring is unresolved. We show that the Z ring is positioned at midcell with a high degree of precision in Bacillus subtilis, and this is completely maintained in the absence of the Min system. Min is therefore not required for correct midcell Z ring placement in B. subtilis. Our results strongly support the idea that the primary role of the Min system is to block Z ring formation at the cell poles and that a separate mechanism must exist to ensure cell division occurs precisely at midcell.
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