Gain‐of‐function variants of FtsA form diverse oligomeric structures on lipids and enhance FtsZ protofilament bundling

Summary Escherichia coli requires FtsZ, FtsA and ZipA proteins for early stages of cell division, the latter two tethering FtsZ polymers to the cytoplasmic membrane. Hypermorphic mutants of FtsA such as FtsA* (R286W) map to the FtsA self‐interaction interface and can bypass the need for ZipA. Purified FtsA forms closed minirings on lipid monolayers that antagonize bundling of FtsZ protofilaments, whereas FtsA* forms smaller oligomeric arcs that enable bundling. Here, we examined three additional FtsA*‐like mutant proteins for their ability to form oligomers on lipid monolayers and bundle FtsZ. Surprisingly, all three formed distinct structures ranging from mostly arcs (T249M), a mixture of minirings, arcs and straight filaments (Y139D) or short straight double filaments (G50E). All three could form filament sheets at higher concentrations with added ATP. Despite forming these diverse structures, all three mutant proteins acted like FtsA* to enable FtsZ protofilament bundling on lipid monolayers. Synthesis of the FtsA*‐like proteins in vivo suppressed the toxic effects of a bundling‐defective FtsZ, exacerbated effects of a hyper‐bundled FtsZ, and rescued some thermosensitive cell division alleles. Together, the data suggest that conversion of FtsA minirings into any type of non‐miniring oligomer can promote progression of cytokinesis through FtsZ bundling and other mechanisms.