01232nas a2200205   4500000000100000008004100001260001600042653001200058653000900070653002500079653001800104653002500122653002400147100001100171700001100182700001000193245006700203520074200270022001401012       2012                            d  c2012 Aug 3010aleprosy10aFtsZ10aCytoskeletal protein10aMycobacterium10aRegulation mechanism10aanti-TB drug target1 aHong W1 aDeng W1 aXie J00aThe Structure, Function, and Regulation of Mycobacterium FtsZ.3 aFtsZ is a widely distributed major cytoskeletal protein involved in the archaea and bacteria cell division. It is the most critical component in the division machinery and similar to tubulin in structure and function. Four major roles of FtsZ have been characterized: cell elongation, GTPase, cell division, and bacterial cytoskeleton. FtsZ subunits can be assembled into protofilaments. Mycobacteria consist of a large family of medical and environmental important bacteria, such as M. leprae, M. tuberculosis, the pathogen of leprosy, and tuberculosis. Structure, function, and regulation of mycobacteria FtsZ are summarized here, together with the implication of FtsZ as potential novel drug target for anti-tuberculosis therapeutics.  a1559-0283