Integration of multiple developmental signals in Bacillus subtilis through the Spo0A transcription factor.
Multiple physiological and environmental signals are needed to initiate endospore formation in Bacillus subtilis. One key event controlling sporulation is activation of the Spo0A transcription factor. Spo0A is a member of a large family of conserved regulatory proteins whose activity is controlled by phosphorylation. We have isolated deletion mutations that remove part of the conserved amino terminus of Spo0A and make the transcription factor constitutively active, indicating that the amino terminus normally functions to keep the protein in an inactive state. Expression of an activated gene product is sufficient to activate expression of several sporulation genes in the absence of signals normally needed for initiation of sporulation. Our results indicate that nutritional, cell density, and cell-cycle signals are integrated through the phosphorylation pathway that controls activation of Spo0A.
Ireton
K
K
Department of Biology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge 02139.
Rudner
D Z
DZ
Siranosian
K J
KJ
Grossman
A D
AD
D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D001412:Bacillus subtilis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000254:growth & development; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D015964:Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009154:Mutation / Q000235:genetics; D010766:Phosphorylation; D012808:Sigma Factor; D014157:Transcription Factors
D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D012808:Sigma Factor; D014157:Transcription Factors; C092468:spoIIR protein, Bacillus subtilis; C030069:spore-specific proteins, Bacillus