RodZ acts through MreBCD to activate the elongasome in Escherichia coli.

RodZ activates the elongasome in Escherichia coli by triggering signaling pathways through MreCD and MreB, essential for lateral peptidoglycan synthesis.

• Why it matters: Understanding how bacteria regulate cell shape and peptidoglycan synthesis is crucial for insights into bacterial growth and potential antibiotic targets, yet the mechanisms remain unclear.
• What they did: The study examined MreC mutations and interactions with RodZ, MreB, and PBP2, revealing that RodZ initiates two signaling cascades in the periplasm and cytoplasm to activate the elongasome.
• The result: Findings demonstrate that RodZ promotes rod-shaped growth by switching MreBCD to an active state, enabling lateral PG synthesis, and suggest similar activation mechanisms govern cell elongation and division.