title: Switch protein alters specificity of RNA polymerase containing a compartment-specific sigma factor.
abstract: During sporulation in Bacillus subtilis, expression of developmental genes spoIVCB and cotD is induced in the mother cell compartment of the sporangium at morphological stages IV and V, respectively. A 27-kilodalton RNA polymerase sigma factor called sigma K (or sigma 27) has been found that causes weak transcription of spoIVCB and strong transcription of cotD. A 14-kD protein was also discovered that changes the specificity of sigma K-containing RNA polymerase, greatly stimulating spoIVCB transcription and markedly repressing cotD transcription. Both sigma K and the 14-kD protein are products of genes known to be required for expression of specific genes in the mother cell. Thus, sigma K directs gene expression in the mother cell and it is proposed that inactivation or sequestering of the 14-kD protein switches the temporal pattern of gene expression during the transition from stages IV to V of development.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cellular and Developmental Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Kroos
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Kunkel
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Losick
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D001412:Bacillus subtilis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D012321:DNA-Directed RNA Polymerases / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D004591:Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic; D012808:Sigma Factor / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D013171:Spores, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics*; D014158:Transcription, Genetic
chemical_list: D012808:Sigma Factor; D014157:Transcription Factors; D012321:DNA-Directed RNA Polymerases