title: Possible role for the essential GTP-binding protein Obg in regulating the initiation of sporulation in Bacillus subtilis.
abstract: We fused obg, encoding an essential GTP-binding protein in Bacillus subtilis, to the LacI-repressible, IPTG (isopropyl-beta-D-thiogalactopyranoside)-inducible promoter Pspac. Depletion of Obg, following removal of IPTG, caused a defect in sporulation and in expression of sporulation genes that are activated by Spo0A approximately P. These defects were significantly relieved by a mutation in spo0A (rvtA11) that bypasses the normal phosphorylation pathway, indicating that Obg might normally be required, either directly or indirectly, to stimulate activity of the phosphorelay that activates Spo0A.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge 02139, USA.
authors.forename: S J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Vidwans
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ireton
authors.forename: A D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Grossman
mesh_terms: D001412:Bacillus subtilis / Q000502:physiology*; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D019204:GTP-Binding Proteins / Q000502:physiology*; D015964:Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial; D005798:Genes, Bacterial; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics; D012808:Sigma Factor; D013171:Spores, Bacterial; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: C060762:AbrB protein, Bacillus subtilis; D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; C090542:Obg GTP-binding protein, Bacteria; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D012808:Sigma Factor; C080950:Spo0A protein, Bacillus subtilis; D014157:Transcription Factors; C092468:spoIIR protein, Bacillus subtilis; C030069:spore-specific proteins, Bacillus; D019204:GTP-Binding Proteins