Three-dimensional structure of the Z-ring as a random network of FtsZ filaments.

The spatial organization of the Z-ring, the central element of the bacterial division machinery, is not yet fully understood. Using optical tweezers and subpixel image analysis, we have recently shown that the radial width of the Z-ring in unconstricted Escherichia coli is about 100 nm. The relatively large width is consistent with the observations of others.