Characterization of a prokaryotic SMC protein involved in chromosome partitioning.
smc of Bacillus subtilis encodes a homolog of eukaryotic SMC proteins involved in chromosome condensation, pairing, and partitioning. A null mutation in B. subtilis smc caused a temperature-sensitive-lethal phenotype in rich medium. Under permissive conditions, the mutant had abnormal nucleoids, approximately 10% of the cells were anucleate, and assembly of foci of the chromosome partitioning protein Spo0J was altered. In combination with a null mutation in spo0J, the smc mutation caused a synthetic phenotype; cell growth was slower and approximately 25% of the cells were anucleate. Our results demonstrate that the B. subtilis Smc protein, like its eukaryotic counterpart, plays an important role in chromosome structure and partitioning.
Britton
R A
RA
Department of Biology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, USA.
Lin
D C
DC
Grossman
A D
AD
D001412:Bacillus subtilis / Q000166:cytology / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D002455:Cell Division / Q000235:genetics; D002876:Chromosomes, Bacterial; D005798:Genes, Bacterial; D008954:Models, Biological; D009154:Mutation; D010641:Phenotype; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D013171:Spores, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics; D013347:Subcellular Fractions / Q000378:metabolism; D013696:Temperature
D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins