title: Developmental expression of three proteins from the first gene of the RNA polymerase sigma 43 operon of Bacillus subtilis.
abstract: The first gene of the Bacillus subtilis RNA polymerase sigma 43 operon, P23, has a protein-coding capacity of 23,000 daltons. Sequence analysis revealed three potential translational initiation sites within the same reading frame, which could encode proteins of 23,000 (P23), 19,000 (P19), and 9,000 (P9) daltons, respectively. An internal promoter (P3), which is expressed only during the sporulation stage, is located between the second and the third translational start sites. By protein fusion to the Escherichia coli beta-galactosidase gene, we showed that all three translational initiation sites of the P23 gene are used in vivo in both E. coli and B. subtilis, and regulation for differential expression of the three proteins during the development of B. subtilis is coupled to the transcriptional promoter switching mechanism. The physiological function of these multiple gene products is unknown and is currently under investigation.
mesh_terms: D001412:Bacillus subtilis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D001483:Base Sequence; D004262:DNA Restriction Enzymes; D004274:DNA, Recombinant; D012321:DNA-Directed RNA Polymerases / Q000235:genetics; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000235:genetics; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D005798:Genes, Bacterial; D007118:Immunoassay; D009876:Operon; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic; D014176:Protein Biosynthesis; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis; D012689:Sequence Homology, Nucleic Acid; D012808:Sigma Factor / Q000235:genetics*; D013171:Spores, Bacterial; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics*; D014158:Transcription, Genetic
chemical_list: D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D004274:DNA, Recombinant; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D012808:Sigma Factor; D014157:Transcription Factors; D012321:DNA-Directed RNA Polymerases; D004262:DNA Restriction Enzymes