An adenosine nucleotide switch controlling the activity of a cell type-specific transcription factor in B. subtilis.
The sigma F factor establishes cell type-specific gene transcription during sporulation in B. subtilis. sigma F is negatively regulated by SpollAB, which forms complexes with sigma F or SpollAA. ATP and its nonhydrolyzable analogs stimulate the formation of the SpollAB.sigma F complex, whereas ADP stimulates the formation of the SpollAB.SpollAA complex. Which protein SpollAB associates with is determined by the concentrations of the two nucleotides, on which basis we propose a partner-switching model for the regulation of sigma F: [formula: see text] Consistent with this model, SpollAA reverses SpollAB-mediated inhibition of sigma F-directed transcription in a manner that depends on ADP. Cell-specific activation of sigma F could be due to an alteration in adenosine nucleotide levels in one cell of the sporangium.
Alper
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S
Department of Cellular and Developmental Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138.
Duncan
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L
Losick
R
R
D000244:Adenosine Diphosphate / Q000378:metabolism*; D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate / Q000378:metabolism*; D001412:Bacillus subtilis / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D003432:Cross-Linking Reagents; D015964:Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial / Q000502:physiology; D008954:Models, Biological; D010766:Phosphorylation; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic / Q000235:genetics; D011485:Protein Binding; D012808:Sigma Factor / Q000378:metabolism*; D013171:Spores, Bacterial / Q000378:metabolism; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000378:metabolism; D014158:Transcription, Genetic
D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D003432:Cross-Linking Reagents; C064971:FliA protein, Bacteria; C079011:SigB protein, Bacteria; D012808:Sigma Factor; D014157:Transcription Factors; C092468:spoIIR protein, Bacillus subtilis; C030069:spore-specific proteins, Bacillus; D000244:Adenosine Diphosphate; D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate