FtsZ: The Force Awakens

Binary fission of prokaryotic cells depends on a protein called FtsZ that self-assembles into a membrane-associated ring structure (FtsZ-ring) in the early stages of the cell division process. FtsZ is a tubulin homologue, which interacts with many additional proteins contributing to its function forming a ring at the mid-cell, essential for bacterial cell division. Whether the Z-ring is a force-generating machinery or a simple scaffold for organizing all other molecular players is poorly understood. Here, we review briefly the structure, dynamics, and interactions of FtsZ, the Z-ring and its associated proteins and weigh the evidence for and against force production by FtsZ.