The divergent early divisome: is there a functional core?

The early phase of bacterial division involves four major core functions: chromosome coordination, Z-ring stabilization, Z-ring anchoring, and regulation of the initiation of late division.Core functions of the early divisome are generally conserved across the Proteobacteria, not necessarily genes.Gene conservation and essentiality cannot be used to define the core early divisome due to the strong epistatic nature of this network and its coevolution with other critical cellular processes.Variation within the early divisome can inform fundamental principles about division and the evolutionary constraints that have shaped division in each lineage. The bacterial divisome is a complex nanomachine that drives cell division and separation. The essentiality of these processes leads to the assumption that proteins with core roles will be strictly conserved across all bacterial genomes. However, recent studies in diverse proteobacteria have revealed considerable variation in the early divisome compared with Escherichia coli. While some proteins are highly conserved, their specific functions and interacting partners vary. Meanwhile, different subphyla use clade-specific proteins with analogous functions. Thus, instead of focusing on gene conservation, we must also explore how key functions are maintained during early division by diverging protein networks. An enhanced awareness of these complex genetic networks will clarify the physical and evolutionary constraints of bacterial division. The bacterial divisome is a complex nanomachine that drives cell division and separation. The essentiality of these processes leads to the assumption that proteins with core roles will be strictly conserved across all bacterial genomes. However, recent studies in diverse proteobacteria have revealed considerable variation in the early divisome compared with Escherichia coli. While some proteins are highly conserved, their specific functions and interacting partners vary. Meanwhile, different subphyla use clade-specific proteins with analogous functions. Thus, instead of focusing on gene conservation, we must also explore how key functions are maintained during early division by diverging protein networks. An enhanced awareness of these complex genetic networks will clarify the physical and evolutionary constraints of bacterial division.