Inhibition of growth of ftsQ, ftsA, and ftsZ mutant cells of Escherichia coli by amplification of a chromosomal region encompassing closely aligned cell division and cell growth genes

Amplification of a 2.6-kilobase chromosomal fragment of the mra region of Escherichia coli encompassing the ftsI(pbpB) gene and an open reading frame upstream with lethal to E. coli strains with mutations of the flanking cell division genes ftsQ, ftsA, and ftsZ. A shortened fragment in which the major portion of ftsI was deleted also had lethal effects on ftsQ and ftsZ mutants.