DNA–membrane interactions can localize bacterial cell center

In actively growing bacterial cells, the DNA exerts stress on the membrane, in addition to the turgor caused by osmotic pressure. This stress is applied through coupled transcription/translation and insertion of membrane proteins (so-called “transertion” process). In bacillary bacteria, the strength of this interaction varies along cell length with a minimum at its midpoint, and hence can locate the cellʹs equator for the assembly of the FtsZ-ring.