An alpha/beta-type, small, acid-soluble spore protein which has very high affinity for DNA prevents outgrowth of Bacillus subtilis spores.
A derivative of SspC, a minor alpha/beta-type, small, acid-soluble spore protein (SASP) from Bacillus subtilis, was generated that has a very high affinity for DNA. This protein (SspC(Delta11-D13K)) was able to confer UV resistance on spores lacking alpha/beta-type SASP, and spores with SspC(Delta11-D13K) triggered germination normally. However, SspC(Delta11-D13K) blocked outgrowth of > or = 90% of germinated spores, and SspC(Delta11-D13K) persisted in these germinated spores, whereas wild-type SspC was almost completely degraded. The outgrowth phenotype of spores with SspC(Delta11-D13K) is proposed to be due to the high stability of the SspC(Delta11-D13K)-DNA complex, which prevents rapid degradation of this alpha/beta-type SASP early in germination. The persistence of this protein on spore DNA then interferes with transcription during spore outgrowth.
Hayes
C S
CS
Department of Biochemistry, University of Connecticut Health Center, Farmington, Connecticut 06030, USA.
Setlow
P
P
D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D001412:Bacillus subtilis / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology* / Q000528:radiation effects; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000378:metabolism*; D015964:Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009154:Mutation; D012808:Sigma Factor; D013171:Spores, Bacterial / Q000502:physiology* / Q000528:radiation effects; D014157:Transcription Factors; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays
D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D004269:DNA, Bacterial; D012808:Sigma Factor; D014157:Transcription Factors; C092468:spoIIR protein, Bacillus subtilis; C030069:spore-specific proteins, Bacillus