FIGURE 7.

Schematic of proposed LytM factor functions in A. tumefaciens. During polar elongation, the essential RgsM likely functions at the new pole, where it likely modifies the cell wall to allow the addition of new PG material. DipM also localizes to the new pole during polar elongation and polar elongation often fails to terminate in absence of DipM, suggesting that DipM may interact with the elongasome and cell wall hydrolases to help regulate unipolar growth. In the absence of DipM the redirection of growth to mid-cell occurs but frequently leads to mid-cell bulges rather than cell division suggesting that DipM likely regulates PG hydrolases involved in early stages of cell division. Finally, EnvC regulates the activity of AmiC at mid-cell during cell division. While this is a canonical function for a dLytM factor, EnvC and AmiC are not required for cell separation but rather for proper establishment of growth poles following cell division. Protein schematics are shown as described in Figure 1.