The FtsZ protein is a highly conserved bacterial tubulin homolog. In vivo, the functional form of FtsZ is the polymeric, ring-like structure (Z-ring) assembled at the future division site during cell division. While it is clear that the Z-ring plays an essential role in orchestrating cytokinesis, precisely what its functions are and how these functions are achieved remain elusive. In this article, we review what we have learned during the past decade about the Z-ring's structure, function, and dynamics, with a particular focus on insights generated by recent high-resolution imaging and single-molecule analyses. We suggest that the major function of the Z-ring is to govern nascent cell pole morphogenesis by directing the spatiotemporal distribution of septal cell wall remodeling enzymes through the Z-ring's GTP hydrolysis-dependent treadmilling dynamics. In this role, FtsZ functions in cell division as the counterpart of the cell shape-determining actin homolog MreB in cell elongation.

中文翻译：

---

深入了解细菌细胞动力学 FtsZ 环的结构、功能和动力学。

FtsZ 蛋白是高度保守的细菌微管蛋白同源物。在体内，FtsZ 的功能形式是在细胞分裂过程中在未来分裂位点组装的聚合物环状结构（Z 环）。虽然很明显 Z 形环在协调胞质分裂中起着至关重要的作用，但它的功能是什么以及这些功能是如何实现的仍然难以捉摸。在本文中，我们回顾了我们在过去十年中学到的关于 Z 环结构、功能和动力学的知识，特别关注最近高分辨率成像和单分子分析产生的见解。我们认为 Z 形环的主要功能是通过 Z 形环引导中隔细胞壁重塑酶的时空分布来控制新生细胞极的形态发生 s GTP 水解依赖的跑步动力学。在这个角色中，FtsZ 在细胞分裂中作为细胞形状决定肌动蛋白同源物 MreB 的对应物在细胞伸长中起作用。