Time Lapse Photographs of MinE Dynamics in a Cell with Two Potential Division Sites
Time-lapse fluorescence micrographs showing the dynamic behavior of MinE-Gfp in a short filamentous cell. Times are indicated in seconds. Note the accumulation of MinE-Gfp in two dynamic E rings as well as in an extra-annular peripheral pattern (PEA signal) that is present either in between two rings (0-60 and 150-160 s) or in between a ring and the proximal cell pole (80-130 s). Note the net movement of rings toward the PEA signal(s) (0-60, 80-130, and 150-160 s), the disappearance of rings when they approach either each other (60 s) or one of the cell poles (130 s), and the subsequent appearance of new rings and PEA signal(s) in the region(s) previously devoid of signal (80 and 150 s). Arrowheads (< or >) indicate both the position of a ring as well as the direction of its movement.
Shown is a filament of strain DR102/pDB346/pDR174 [DminCDE::aph, ftsZ° , recA::Tn10 /PlR::ftsZ, cI857/Plac::bfp-minD, minE-gfp]. Cells were grown in the presence of 50 mM isopropyl b -d-thiogalactoside at 30° C and displayed a filamentous phenotype because of the depletion of FtsZ. The bar in the DIC panel represents 2 mm. For additional details, see Hale, C. A., Meinhardt, H. & de Boer, P. A. J. (2001) EMBO J. 20, 1563-1572.