title: Characterization of dacC, which encodes a new low-molecular-weight penicillin-binding protein in Bacillus subtilis.
abstract: The pbp gene (renamed dacC), identified by the Bacillus subtilis genome sequencing project, encodes a putative 491-residue protein with sequence homology to low-molecular-weight penicillin-binding proteins. Use of a transcriptional dacC-lacZ fusion revealed that dacC expression (i) is initiated at the end of stationary phase; (ii) depends strongly on transcription factor sigmaH; and (iii) appears to be initiated from a promoter located immediately upstream of yoxA, a gene of unknown function located upstream of dacC on the B. subtilis chromosome. A B. subtilis dacC insertional mutant grew and sporulated identically to wild-type cells, and dacC and wild-type spores had the same heat resistance, cortex structure, and germination and outgrowth kinetics. Expression of dacC in Escherichia coli showed that this gene encodes an approximately 59-kDa membrane-associated penicillin-binding protein which is highly toxic when overexpressed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, University of Connecticut Health Center, Farmington, Connecticut 06032, USA.
authors.forename: L B
authors.initials: LB
authors.lastname: Pedersen
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Murray
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*; D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development; D005798:Genes, Bacterial; D006602:Hexosyltransferases; D007763:Lac Operon; D008970:Molecular Weight; D002267:Muramoylpentapeptide Carboxypeptidase / Q000235:genetics*; D009154:Mutation; D046915:Penicillin-Binding Proteins; D010458:Peptidyl Transferases; D014158:Transcription, Genetic
chemical_list: D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D002352:Carrier Proteins; D046915:Penicillin-Binding Proteins; D010458:Peptidyl Transferases; D006602:Hexosyltransferases; D002267:Muramoylpentapeptide Carboxypeptidase