---
_id: '1213'
abstract:
- lang: eng
  text: 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.
acknowledged_ssus:
- _id: Bio
acknowledgement: Natalia Baranova is supported by an EMBO Long-Term Fellowship (EMBO
  ALTF 1163-2015) and Martin Loose by an ERC Starting Grant (ERCStG-2015-SelfOrganiCell).
alternative_title:
- Methods in Cell Biology
article_processing_charge: No
author:
- first_name: Natalia
  full_name: Baranova, Natalia
  id: 38661662-F248-11E8-B48F-1D18A9856A87
  last_name: Baranova
  orcid: 0000-0002-3086-9124
- first_name: Martin
  full_name: Loose, Martin
  id: 462D4284-F248-11E8-B48F-1D18A9856A87
  last_name: Loose
  orcid: 0000-0001-7309-9724
citation:
  ama: '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>'
  apa: 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>
  chicago: 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>.
  ieee: 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.
  ista: '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.'
  mla: 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>.
  short: N.S. Baranova, M. Loose, in:, A. Echard (Ed.), Cytokinesis, Academic Press,
    2017, pp. 355–370.
date_created: 2018-12-11T11:50:45Z
date_published: 2017-12-01T00:00:00Z
date_updated: 2025-07-10T11:50:24Z
day: '01'
department:
- _id: MaLo
doi: 10.1016/bs.mcb.2016.03.036
ec_funded: 1
editor:
- first_name: 'Arnaud '
  full_name: 'Echard, Arnaud '
  last_name: Echard
external_id:
  isi:
  - '000403542900022'
intvolume: '       137'
isi: 1
language:
- iso: eng
month: '12'
oa_version: None
page: 355 - 370
project:
- _id: 2596EAB6-B435-11E9-9278-68D0E5697425
  grant_number: ALTF 2015-1163
  name: Synthesis of bacterial cell wall
- _id: 25681D80-B435-11E9-9278-68D0E5697425
  call_identifier: FP7
  grant_number: '291734'
  name: International IST Postdoc Fellowship Programme
publication: Cytokinesis
publication_identifier:
  issn:
  - 0091-679X
publication_status: published
publisher: Academic Press
publist_id: '6134'
quality_controlled: '1'
scopus_import: '1'
status: public
title: Single-molecule measurements to study polymerization dynamics of FtsZ-FtsA
  copolymers
type: book_chapter
user_id: 2DF688A6-F248-11E8-B48F-1D18A9856A87
volume: 137
year: '2017'
...