Molecular association of FtsZ with the intrabacterial nanotransportation system for urease in Helicobacter pylori

Helicobacter pylori possesses intrabacterial nanotransportation system ( ib NoTS) for transporting CagA, VacA, and urease within the bacterial cytoplasm, which is controlled by the extrabacterial environment. The route of ib NoTS for CagA is reported to be associated with the MreB filament, whereas the route of ib NoTS for urease is not yet known. In this study, we demonstrated by immunoelectron microscopy that urease along the route of ib NoTS localizes closely with the FtsZ filament in the bacterium. Supporting this, we found by enzyme immunoassay and co-immunoprecipitation analysis that urease interacted with FtsZ. These findings indicate that urease along the route of ib NoTS is closely associated with the FtsZ filament. Since these phenomena were not observed in ib NoTS for CagA, the route of ib NoTS for CagA is different from that of ib NoTS for urease. We propose that the route of ib NoTS for urease is associated with the FtsZ filament in H. pylori .