title: CotA of Bacillus subtilis is a copper-dependent laccase.
abstract: The spore coat protein CotA of Bacillus subtilis displays similarities with multicopper oxidases, including manganese oxidases and laccases. B. subtilis is able to oxidize manganese, but neither CotA nor other sporulation proteins are involved. We demonstrate that CotA is a laccase. Syringaldazine, a specific substrate of laccases, reacted with wild-type spores but not with DeltacotA spores. CotA may participate in the biosynthesis of the brown spore pigment, which appears to be a melanin-like product and to protect against UV light.
authors.affiliation: Unité de Génétique des Génomes Bactériens, Institut Pasteur, 75724 Paris Cedex 15, France.
authors.forename: M F
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Hullo
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Moszer
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Danchin
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Martin-Verstraete
mesh_terms: D001412:Bacillus subtilis / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000528:radiation effects; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D001665:Binding Sites; D003300:Copper / Q000378:metabolism*; D003470:Culture Media; D042845:Laccase; D008345:Manganese / Q000378:metabolism; D008543:Melanins / Q000378:metabolism; D010088:Oxidoreductases / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D010860:Pigments, Biological / Q000378:metabolism; D013171:Spores, Bacterial / Q000378:metabolism*; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays
chemical_list: D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D003470:Culture Media; D008543:Melanins; D010860:Pigments, Biological; D008345:Manganese; D003300:Copper; D010088:Oxidoreductases; D042845:Laccase