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.
Department of Biochemistry, University of Connecticut Health Center, Farmington, Connecticut 06030, USA.
C S
CS
Hayes
P
P
Setlow
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