Transcriptional regulation of cell division genes in Escherichia coli

The complete Escherichia coli ftsQ coding sequence, together with part of the ftsA coding sequence, has been cloned upstream of the lacZ open reading frame in a lambda-vector (lambda JFL100). Cells which are lysogenic for lambda JFL100 transcribe the cloned lacZ from promoter(s) within the ftsQ and ftsA sequences. The level of beta-galactosidase produced is dependent on growth rate (and/or cell size) and is derepressed in an ftsA-deficient mutant. Transcription during the cell cycle is restricted to the time of cell division.