Players between the worlds: multifunctional DNA translocases

DNA translocases play important roles during the bacterial cell cycle and in cell differentiation. Escherichia coli cells contain a multifunctional translocase, FtsK, which is involved in cell division, late steps of chromosome segregation and dimer resolution. In Gram-positive bacteria, the latter two processes are achieved by two translocases, SftA and SpoIIIE. These two translocases operate in a two step fashion, before and after closure of the division septum. DNA translocases have the remarkable ability to translocate DNA in a vectorial manner, orienting themselves according to polar sequences present in bacterial genomes, and perform various additional roles during the cell cycle. DNA translocases genetically interact with Structural Maintenance of Chromosomes (SMC) proteins in a flexible manner in different species, underlining the high versatility of this class of proteins.