title: Phenotypes of Bacillus subtilis mutants lacking multiple class A high-molecular-weight penicillin-binding proteins.
abstract: Examination of Bacillus subtilis strains containing multiple mutations affecting the class A high-molecular-weight penicillin-binding proteins (PBPs) 1, 2c, and 4 revealed a significant degree of redundancy in the functions of these three proteins. In rich media, loss of PBPs 2c and 4 resulted in no obvious phenotype. The slight growth and cell morphology defects associated with loss of PBP 1 were exacerbated by the additional loss of PBP 4 but not PBP 2c. Loss of all three of these PBPs slowed growth even further. In minimal medium, loss of PBPs 2c and 4 resulted in a slight growth defect. The decrease in growth rate caused by loss of PBP 1 was accentuated slightly by loss of PBP 2c and greatly by loss of PBP 4. Again, a lack of all three of these PBPs resulted in the slowest growth. Loss of PBP 1 resulted in a 22% reduction in the cell radius. Cultures of a strain lacking PBP 1 also contained some cells that were significantly longer than those produced by the wild type, and some of the rod-shaped cells appeared slightly bent. The additional loss of PBP 4 increased the number of longer cells in the culture. Slow growth caused by a mutation in prfA, a gene found in an operon with the gene encoding PBP 1, was unaffected by the additional loss of PBPs 2c and 4, whereas loss of both prfA and PBP 1 resulted in extremely slow growth and the production of highly bent cells.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, University of Connecticut Health Center, Farmington, Connecticut 06030-3305, USA.
authors.forename: D L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Popham
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Setlow
mesh_terms: D001412:Bacillus subtilis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000648:ultrastructure; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology; D015964:Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial; D006602:Hexosyltransferases; D008970:Molecular Weight; D002267:Muramoylpentapeptide Carboxypeptidase / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology; D009154:Mutation; D046915:Penicillin-Binding Proteins; D010454:Peptide Termination Factors; D010458:Peptidyl Transferases; D010641:Phenotype; D013171:Spores, Bacterial / Q000254:growth & development; D015534:Trans-Activators / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D002352:Carrier Proteins; D046915:Penicillin-Binding Proteins; D010454:Peptide Termination Factors; D015534:Trans-Activators; D010458:Peptidyl Transferases; D006602:Hexosyltransferases; D002267:Muramoylpentapeptide Carboxypeptidase