Characterization of rodZ mutants: RodZ is not absolutely required for the cell shape and motility.

RodZ (YfgA) is a membrane protein well conserved among bacterial species and important in the determination of cell shape and motility, although the molecular mechanism involved is not well established. We have characterized a DeltarodZ mutant and show that defective peptidoglycan synthesis might be the primary effect of the deletion. A motile pseudorevertant of DeltarodZ isolated possessed a near rod-shaped cell morphology, indicating that RodZ is not absolutely required for the elongation of the lateral cell wall and the synthesis of functional flagella.