Figure 7
From: Nano-encapsulated Escherichia coli Divisome Anchor ZipA, and in Complex with FtsZ
The steps taken to build the FFEA model for SMALP-ZipA and SMALP-ZipA:FtsZ from Cryo-EM density maps. Step1)The electron density profile is determined and formatted as a Cryo-EM.hdf file, Step 2) a triangulated surface is generated from the.hdf file using an appropriate contour level, Step 3) the triangulated surface is passed through an edge collapse algorithm to reduce the resolution and complexity, Step 4) the volume bounded by the (closed) surface is fully populated with tetrahedra using NETGEN, a 3D mesh generator81. The final connected tetrahedral mesh allows the SMALP structures to be analysed using FFEA continuum simulations. Step 5) The range of movement for SMALP-ZipA shows that the major mode of flexibility involves a bending motion between the ZipA GD and the PQ ___domain, (blue arrow). The range of movement for SMALP-ZipA:FtsZ complex instead involves a correlated bending motion between the FtsZ protrusion and the PQ ___domain. The radius of movement is indicated by the red arrow, and is calculated from FFEA to be in the region of 1.18 nm.
