book chapter published yes Natalia Baranova author 38661662-F248-11E8-B48F-1D18A9856A870000-0002-3086-9124 Martin Loose author 462D4284-F248-11E8-B48F-1D18A9856A870000-0001-7309-9724 Arnaud Echard editor MaLo department Synthesis of bacterial cell wall project International IST Postdoc Fellowship Programme project Bacterial cytokinesis is commonly initiated by the Z-ring, a dynamic cytoskeletal structure that assembles at the site of division. Its primary component is FtsZ, a tubulin-like GTPase, that like its eukaryotic relative forms protein filaments in the presence of GTP. Since the discovery of the Z-ring 25 years ago, various models for the role of FtsZ have been suggested. However, important information about the architecture and dynamics of FtsZ filaments during cytokinesis is still missing. One reason for this lack of knowledge has been the small size of bacteria, which has made it difficult to resolve the orientation and dynamics of individual FtsZ filaments in the Z-ring. While superresolution microscopy experiments have helped to gain more information about the organization of the Z-ring in the dividing cell, they were not yet able to elucidate a mechanism of how FtsZ filaments reorganize during assembly and disassembly of the Z-ring. In this chapter, we explain how to use an in vitro reconstitution approach to investigate the self-organization of FtsZ filaments recruited to a biomimetic lipid bilayer by its membrane anchor FtsA. We show how to perform single-molecule experiments to study the behavior of individual FtsZ monomers during the constant reorganization of the FtsZ-FtsA filament network. We describe how to analyze the dynamics of single molecules and explain why this information can help to shed light onto possible mechanism of Z-ring constriction. We believe that similar experimental approaches will be useful to study the mechanism of membrane-based polymerization of other cytoskeletal systems, not only from prokaryotic but also eukaryotic origin. Academic Press2017 eng 0091-679X 00040354290002210.1016/bs.mcb.2016.03.036 137355 - 370 Baranova, N. S., &#38; Loose, M. (2017). Single-molecule measurements to study polymerization dynamics of FtsZ-FtsA copolymers. In A. Echard (Ed.), <i>Cytokinesis</i> (Vol. 137, pp. 355–370). Academic Press. <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/bs.mcb.2016.03.036">https://doi.org/10.1016/bs.mcb.2016.03.036</a> N. S. Baranova and M. Loose, “Single-molecule measurements to study polymerization dynamics of FtsZ-FtsA copolymers,” in <i>Cytokinesis</i>, vol. 137, A. Echard, Ed. Academic Press, 2017, pp. 355–370. Baranova, Natalia S., and Martin Loose. “Single-Molecule Measurements to Study Polymerization Dynamics of FtsZ-FtsA Copolymers.” <i>Cytokinesis</i>, edited by Arnaud Echard, vol. 137, Academic Press, 2017, pp. 355–70, doi:<a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/bs.mcb.2016.03.036">10.1016/bs.mcb.2016.03.036</a>. N.S. Baranova, M. Loose, in:, A. Echard (Ed.), Cytokinesis, Academic Press, 2017, pp. 355–370. Baranova, Natalia S., and Martin Loose. “Single-Molecule Measurements to Study Polymerization Dynamics of FtsZ-FtsA Copolymers.” In <i>Cytokinesis</i>, edited by Arnaud Echard, 137:355–70. Academic Press, 2017. <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/bs.mcb.2016.03.036">https://doi.org/10.1016/bs.mcb.2016.03.036</a>. Baranova NS, Loose M. Single-molecule measurements to study polymerization dynamics of FtsZ-FtsA copolymers. In: Echard A, ed. <i>Cytokinesis</i>. Vol 137. Academic Press; 2017:355-370. doi:<a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/bs.mcb.2016.03.036">10.1016/bs.mcb.2016.03.036</a> Baranova NS, Loose M. 2017.Single-molecule measurements to study polymerization dynamics of FtsZ-FtsA copolymers. In: Cytokinesis. Methods in Cell Biology, vol. 137, 355–370. 12132018-12-11T11:50:45Z2025-07-10T11:50:24Z