Expression of the ATP-dependent deoxyribonuclease of Bacillus subtilis is under competence-mediated control.
Transcription of the ATP-dependent deoxynuclease operon (addAB), as monitored by means of an addAB-lacZ transcriptional fusion, has a low, constitutive level and is initiated from a sigma A type promoter. Transcription of addAB is independent of DNA-damaging agents known to induce the SOS response in Bacillus subtilis. However, addAB transcription increased significantly during competence development. This competence-specific induction was dependent on the gene products of srfA, degU and comK, but not on that of recA. Deletion analysis of the addAB promoter region demonstrated that the competence-specific transcription induction requires DNA sequences located upstream of the addAB promoter that associated with ComK, the competence transcription factor. The latter finding indicates that a direct regulatory link exists between the establishment of the competent state and the synthesis of AddAB, required for recombination of internalized donor DNA.
Haijema
B J
BJ
Groningen Biomolecular Sciences and Biotechnology Institute, Department of Genetics, University of Groningen, Haren, The Netherlands.
Hamoen
L W
LW
Kooistra
J
J
Venema
G
G
van Sinderen
D
D
D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D001412:Bacillus subtilis / Q000201:enzymology / Q000235:genetics*; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology; D001483:Base Sequence; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics; D004790:Enzyme Induction; D005090:Exodeoxyribonucleases; D015964:Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009876:Operon; D010453:Peptide Synthases / Q000502:physiology; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000502:physiology; D014158:Transcription, Genetic; D014169:Transformation, Bacterial / Q000502:physiology*
D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D004269:DNA, Bacterial; C066497:DegU protein, Bacteria; D014157:Transcription Factors; C087449:comK protein, Bacillus subtilis; D005090:Exodeoxyribonucleases; C080948:AddA protein, Bacillus subtilis; C080949:AddB protein, Bacillus subtilis; D010453:Peptide Synthases; C069542:surfactin synthetase