Transcriptional regulation of ceil division genes in <i>Escherichia coli</i>

Abstract

The complete Escherichia coli ftsQ coding sequence, together with part of the ftsA coding sequence, has been cloned upstream of the lacZ open reading frame in a lambda-vector (lambda JFL100). Cells which are lysogenic for lambda JFL100 transcribe the cloned lacZ from promoter(s) within the ftsQ and ftsA sequences. The level of beta-galactosidase produced is dependent on growth rate (and/or cell size) and is derepressed in an ftsA-deficient mutant. Transcription during the cell cycle is restricted to the time of cell division.