Characterization of the SF1-25 mutation by revertant analysis, subcloning of FtsZ gene and 2d gel analysis of FtsZ protein

Because it is a well studied and relatively simple unicellular organism, Escherichia coli provides an easily accessible system for the study of cell cycle regulation. With this in mind, research directed toward an understanding of the coordinated regulation of DNA replication and cell division has been actively pursued over the past twenty-five or so years. Of particular relevance to this work have been efforts to unravel the multitudes of E. coli genes involved in cell division, how their gene products act and interact, and how these genes/gene products are coordinated. The goal of this thesis is to extend the understanding of the possible mechanism(s) by which a recently isolated and identified cell division gene mutation, sfi-25, regulates the division process.