Fig. 5: Point mutation in FtsZ L169R changes the properties of FtsZ filaments.
From: Chiral and nematic phases of flexible active filaments
a, Ribbon model of the S. aureus FtsZ filament (PDB 3VOB) (left) and the longitudinal interface predicted for Escherichia coli FtsZ WT (right, top) and L169R (right, bottom). The leucine to arginine mutation probably enables a novel salt bridge, which stabilizes the FtsZ filament. b, Representative HS-AFM time-lapse experiment, showing an increase in density of FtsZ L169R filaments. Already at low densities, the mutant filaments are less dynamic and more rigid. Scale bars, 500 nm. c, Curvature of FtsZ L169R filaments as a function of density is lower than FtsZ WT filaments at all the tested densities. d, Persistence length of FtsZ L169R filaments as a function of density, showing a two times higher value compared with FtsZ WT. e, Contour length of FtsZ L169R as a function of density, increasing faster than FtsZ L169R. Data shown in d and e are taken from experiments at low densities (<40%), as FtsZ L169R filaments at higher densities can be longer than the field of view and impede quantification. The curvature, persistence and contour length of FtsZ filaments were quantified from 5 (WT) and 4 (L169R) independent experiments. The dots indicate the mean result of all the filaments at the indicated packing fraction. The thick lines represent the mean and the shaded area, the 95% confidence interval.
