Activation of cell-specific transcription by a serine phosphatase at the site of asymmetric division.
Cell fate is determined by cell-specific activation of transcription factor sigma F after asymmetric division during sporulation by Bacillus subtilis. The activity of sigma F is governed by SpoIIAA, SpoIIAB, and SpoIIE, a membrane protein localized at the polar septum. SpoIIAB binds to and inhibits sigma F, and SpoIIAA inhibits SpoIIAB, which prevents SpoIIAB from binding to sigma F. SpoIIAB is also a serine kinase that inactivates SpoIIAA. Here, it is demonstrated that SpoIIE dephosphorylates SpoIIAA-P and overcomes SpoIIAB-mediated inhibition of sigma F. The finding that SpoIIE is a serine phosphatase links asymmetric division to the pathway governing cell-specific gene transcription.
Duncan
L
L
Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA.
Alper
S
S
Arigoni
F
F
Losick
R
R
Stragier
P
P
D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate / Q000378:metabolism; D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D001412:Bacillus subtilis / Q000166:cytology / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism*; D002455:Cell Division; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010749:Phosphoprotein Phosphatases / Q000378:metabolism*; D010766:Phosphorylation; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D012808:Sigma Factor / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism*; D013171:Spores, Bacterial / Q000502:physiology*; D014157:Transcription Factors; D014158:Transcription, Genetic
D001426:Bacterial Proteins; C064971:FliA protein, Bacteria; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins; D012808:Sigma Factor; D014157:Transcription Factors; C092468:spoIIR protein, Bacillus subtilis; C030069:spore-specific proteins, Bacillus; D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate; D010749:Phosphoprotein Phosphatases