Binary fission of prokaryotic cells depends on a protein called FtsZ that self-assembles into a membrane-associated ring structure (FtsZ-ring) in the early stages of the cell division process. FtsZ is a tubulin homologue, which interacts with many additional proteins contributing to its function forming a ring at the mid-cell, essential for bacterial cell division. Whether the Z-ring is a force-generating machinery or a simple scaffold for organizing all other molecular players is poorly understood. Here, we review briefly the structure, dynamics, and interactions of FtsZ, the Z-ring and its associated proteins and weigh the evidence for and against force production by FtsZ.

中文翻译：

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FtsZ：原力觉醒

原核细胞的二元裂变取决于一种称为 FtsZ 的蛋白质，该蛋白质在细胞分裂过程的早期阶段自组装成膜相关环结构（FtsZ 环）。FtsZ 是一种微管蛋白同系物，它与许多其他有助于其功能的蛋白质相互作用，在中间细胞形成一个环，对细菌细胞分裂至关重要。Z 形环是产生力的机器还是用于组织所有其他分子参与者的简单支架，我们知之甚少。在这里，我们简要回顾了 FtsZ、Z 环及其相关蛋白质的结构、动力学和相互作用，并权衡了支持和反对 FtsZ 产生力的证据。