1. Describe physiological function of the MinE, MinC, MinD, SlmA, FtsZ, etc.  Min system: determines the position of FtsZ polymerization  What’s FtsZ polymerization: o FtsZ ring forms during regulation of cell division o FtsZ protein forms a ring at the midpoint of the cell, attracting other proteins, which form the division septum o FtsZ forms the division septum, which eventually squeezes the mother cell at its center to allow the formation of the two daughter cells o Why does the septum form only in the middle of the cell? = Min systems and nucleoid occlusion systems  Min proteins prevent the formation of FtsZ rings anywhere in the cell other than in the middle. Nucleoid occlusion proteins prevent the formation of FtsZ rings over nucleoids  Three proteins: MinC, minD, MinE o They all select the side for the division septum to form o MinE oscillates from pole to pole in the cell and is most frequently present at mid-cell o MinE excludes the MinCD complex o MinC inhibits FtsZ polymerization and associates with the membrane-bound ATPase MinD, to prevent formation of the Z ring o MinC division inhibitor is highest at the poles, where it needs to inhibit FtsZ, and lowest in the middle  SlmA, stimulated on DNA binding, inhibits cell division by disassembling FtsZ polymers of the Z ring o Nucleoid occlusion protein o Acts by binding to DNA and then inhibiting FtsZ ring formation close to the DNA to which they are bound