The transcription factor DksA exerts opposing effects on cell division depending on the presence of ppGpp.

ABSTRACT: Bacterial cell size is a multifactorial trait that is influenced by variables including nutritional availability and the timing of cell division. Prior work revealed a negative correlation between concentration of the alarmone (p)ppGpp (ppGpp) and cell length in Escherichia coli, suggesting that ppGpp may promote assembly of the division machinery (divisome) and cytokinesis in this organism. To clarify this counterintuitive connection between a starvation-induced stress response effector and cell proliferation, we undertook a systematic analysis of growth and division in E. coli cells defective in ppGpp synthesis and/or engineered to overproduce the alarmone. Our data indicate that ppGpp acts indirectly on divisome assembly through its role as a global mediator of transcripti

SUBMITTER: Anderson SE 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10746185 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature