Fic proteins are found in bacteria and humans and are characterized by a conserved amino acid motif. In pathogenic bacteria, some Fic proteins act as toxins that modify host proteins, killing cells to evade the immune system. Fic proteins in E. coli were originally found to cause filamentation when the gene was mutated and the bacteria was exposed to heat shock or cAMP. The student researcher aims to understand the role of the E. coli Fic protein (EcFic) in cell division by studying its interaction with its inhibitor YhfG and identifying other protein targets through mass spectrometry. This work could reveal a new role for Fic proteins in regulating basic cellular processes like cell division in non-pathogenic bacteria