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

Abstract

FtsN promotes the inward synthesis of septal peptidoglycan (sPG) through the FtsWI complex during bacterial cell division. Here, Lyu et al. apply single-molecule microscopy on E. coli to show that FtsN proteins (I) move processively at a speed similar to that of FtsWI molecules. (II) can be divided into two populations based on their speeds, and (III) their movement is driven exclusively by peptidoglycan synthesis