A new mutation in spo0A with intragenic suppressors in the effector domain

FEMS Microbiol Lett. 2000 Apr 15;185(2):123-8. doi: 10.1111/j.1574-6968.2000.tb09049.x.

Abstract

Spo0A is a two domain response regulator, a key protein in the initiation of sporulation of Bacillus subtilis. This protein controls a number of changes in gene expression that occur during the transition from stationary phase to the onset of sporulation. The phosphorylated form of Spo0A influences the transcription of a specific set of genes. In addition to others, it represses abrB and activates spoIIA and spoIIE transcription. Although the N-terminal phosphoacceptor domain is well characterised, there is limited information on the C-terminal, DNA-binding domain. Comparisons of Spo0A homologues from a number of Bacillus and Clostridium species show that the C-terminal domain contains three highly conserved regions. In this study, we have investigated the influence of spo0A mutations mapping within the C-terminal domain on transcription from the abrB, spoIIA and spoIIE promoters using lacZ fusions. Our results indicate that described mutations can be part of signalling between N- and C-terminal domains of the protein. Also, the increased expression observed from the spoIIE promoter in some Spo0A mutants might result from a stabilising function of these mutations on the transcriptional apparatus utilising sigma(A).

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Bacillus subtilis / genetics
  • Bacillus subtilis / physiology*
  • Bacterial Proteins / chemistry
  • Bacterial Proteins / genetics*
  • Bacterial Proteins / metabolism
  • Culture Media
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / genetics
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / metabolism
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial*
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Plasmids / genetics
  • Promoter Regions, Genetic
  • Sigma Factor*
  • Spores, Bacterial / genetics
  • Spores, Bacterial / physiology
  • Suppression, Genetic*
  • Transcription Factors / chemistry
  • Transcription Factors / genetics*
  • Transcription Factors / metabolism
  • Transcription, Genetic

Substances

  • AbrB protein, Bacillus subtilis
  • Bacterial Proteins
  • Culture Media
  • DNA-Binding Proteins
  • Sigma Factor
  • Spo0A protein, Bacillus subtilis
  • SpoIIB protein, Bacillus subtilis
  • Transcription Factors
  • spoIIR protein, Bacillus subtilis
  • spore-specific proteins, Bacillus