Recombinant Putative phosphotransferase ytmP (ytmP)

The protein CcrZ, also known as Cell Cycle Regulator protein interacting with FtsZ, is a conserved protein that plays a crucial role in the regulation of the cell cycle and DNA replication. It has been identified as a spatiotemporal cell cycle regulator that interacts with FtsZ and controls DNA replication by modulating the activity of DnaA [1]. CcrZ has been shown to interact with essential proteins such as FtsA, ZapA, and ZapJ, thereby coupling cell division with DNA replication through the control of DnaA activity [2]. Additionally, CcrZ is fundamental for DnaA-dependent DNA replication initiation and localizes at mid-cell for most of the cell cycle [3]. The conserved residues of CcrZ are essential for its function, and it is predicted to have a single APH domain [4]. Furthermore, CcrZ has been demonstrated to interact with FtsZ, a tubulin homolog required for Z-ring formation and cytokinesis, highlighting its role in coordinating cell division and DNA replication [5].

CcrZ's function in regulating the cell cycle is well appreciated, and it has been implicated in connecting the initiation of DNA replication to cell division [6]. The protein's role in controlling DNA replication and its interaction with key cell division proteins underscores its significance in coordinating these essential cellular processes. Moreover, the identification of CcrZ as a cell cycle regulator provides insights into the intricate mechanisms that govern the spatiotemporal control of DNA replication and cell division. Understanding the precise functions of CcrZ is crucial for unraveling the complexities of the cell cycle and its regulation, with potential implications for various cellular contexts and diseases.

References:
[1] C. Gallay, S. Sanselicio, M. Anderson, Y. Soh, X. Li, G. Stamsåset al., "Ccrz is a pneumococcal spatiotemporal cell cycle regulator that interacts with ftsz and controls dna replication by modulating the activity of dnaa", Nature Microbiology, vol. 6, no. 9, p. 1175-1187, 2021. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41564-021-00949-1
[2] A. Perez, J. Villicana, H. Tsui, M. Danforth, M. Benedet, O. Massiddaet al., "Ftsz-ring regulation and cell division are mediated by essential ezra and accessory proteins zapa and zapj in streptococcus pneumoniae", Frontiers in Microbiology, vol. 12, 2021. https://doi.org/10.3389/fmicb.2021.780864
[3] C. Gallay, S. Sanselicio, M. Anderson, Y. Soh, X. Liu, G. Stamsåset al., "Spatio-temporal control of dna replication by the pneumococcal cell cycle regulator ccrz",, 2019. https://doi.org/10.1101/775536
[4] C. Gallay, "Deciphering the pneumococcal cell cycle: identification and characterization of new genes involved in growth and replication",. https://doi.org/10.33612/diss.127737312
[5] K. Wozniak, P. Burby, J. Nandakumar, & L. Simmons, "Structure and kinase activity of bacterial cell cycle regulator ccrz", Plos Genetics, vol. 18, no. 5, p. e1010196, 2022. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pgen.1010196
[6] I. Myrbråten, G. Stamsås, H. Chan, D. Angeles, T. Knutsen, Z. Salehianet al., "Smda is a novel cell morphology determinant in staphylococcus aureus", Mbio, vol. 13, no. 2, 2022. https://doi.org/10.1128/mbio.03404-21