Treadmilling FtsZ polymers drive the directional movement of sPG-synthesis enzymes via a Brownian ratchet mechanism

Abstract

Bacterial protein FtsZ polymerizes at mid-cell and exhibits treadmilling dynamics, driving the movement of enzymes that synthesize septal peptidoglycan. Here, McCausland et al. combine theoretical modelling with single-molecule imaging of bacteria to show that FtsZ treadmilling drives enzyme movement via a Brownian ratchet mechanism.