title: Identification of target promoters for the Bacillus subtilis extracytoplasmic function sigma factor, sigma W.
abstract: The Bacillus subtilis sigW gene encodes an extracytoplasmic function (ECF) sigma factor that is expressed in early stationary phase from a sigW-dependent autoregulatory promoter, PW. Using a consensus-based search procedure, we have identified 15 operons preceded by promoters similar in sequence to PW. At least 14 of these promoters are dependent on sigma W both in vivo and in vitro as judged by lacZ reporter fusions, run-off transcription assays and nucleotide resolution start site mapping. We conclude that sigma W controls a regulon of more than 30 genes, many of which encode membrane proteins of unknown function. The sigma W regulon includes a penicillin binding protein (PBP4*) and a co-transcribed amino acid racemase (RacX), homologues of signal peptide peptidase (YteI), flotillin (YuaG), ABC transporters (YknXYZ), non-haem bromoperoxidase (YdjP), epoxide hydrolase (YfhM) and three small peptides with structural similarities to bacteriocin precursor polypeptides. We suggest that sigma W activates a large stationary-phase regulon that functions in detoxification, production of anti-microbial compounds or both.
authors.affiliation: Section of Microbiology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853-8101, USA.
authors.forename: X
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gaballa
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cao
authors.forename: J D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Helmann
mesh_terms: D001412:Bacillus subtilis / Q000235:genetics*; D002874:Chromosome Mapping; D003593:Cytoplasm; D015964:Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial; D016296:Mutagenesis; D010641:Phenotype; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic; D018085:Regulon; D012808:Sigma Factor / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism