The full form of FtsA is filamentous temperature sensitive A.
FtsA is a protein essential for bacterial cytokinesis, the process by which bacteria divide. It plays a critical role in the formation of the Z-ring, a contractile ring at the division site in bacteria. The protein was originally identified in Escherichia coli through a screen for cells that could divide at 30°C but not at 40°C, thus earning its name. This temperature sensitivity reflects mutations affecting FtsA's function in cell division at higher temperatures. Besides E. coli, FtsA is also essential in other bacteria such as Caulobacter crescentus and Bacillus subtilis.
