Transient gene asymmetry during sporulation and establishment of cell specificity in Bacillus subtilis.
Sporulation in Bacillus subtilis is initiated by an asymmetric division generating two cells of different size and fate. During a short interval, the smaller forespore harbors only 30% of the chromosome until the remaining part is translocated across the septum. We demonstrate that moving the gene for sigmaF, the forespore-specific transcription factor, in the trapped region of the chromosome is sufficient to produce spores in the absence of the essential activators SpoIIAA and SpoIIE. We propose that transient genetic asymmetry is the device that releases SpoIIE phosphatase activity in the forespore and establishes cell specificity.
Frandsen
N
N
Institut de Biologie Physico-Chimique, 75005 Paris, France.
Barák
I
I
Karmazyn-Campelli
C
C
Stragier
P
P
D001412:Bacillus subtilis / Q000235:genetics*; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D002455:Cell Division / Q000235:genetics*; D048429:Cell Size / Q000235:genetics; D002875:Chromosomes / Q000235:genetics; D015964:Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics; D010641:Phenotype; D010749:Phosphoprotein Phosphatases / Q000378:metabolism; D012808:Sigma Factor / Q000235:genetics; D013171:Spores, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics*; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics
D001426:Bacterial Proteins; C064971:FliA protein, Bacteria; D012808:Sigma Factor; D014157:Transcription Factors; C092468:spoIIR protein, Bacillus subtilis; C030069:spore-specific proteins, Bacillus; D010749:Phosphoprotein Phosphatases