Antibiotics that inhibit cell wall biosynthesis induce expression of the Bacillus subtilis sigma(W) and sigma(M) regulons.
Bacillus subtilis encodes seven extracytoplasmic function (ECF) sigma factors. The sigma(W) regulon includes functions involved in detoxification and protection against antimicrobials, whereas sigma(M) is essential for growth at high salt concentrations. We now report that antibiotics that inhibit cell wall biosynthesis induce both sigma(W) and sigma(M) regulons as monitored using DNA microarrays. Induction of selected sigma(W)-dependent genes was confirmed using lacZ reporter fusions and Northern blot analysis. The ability of vancomycin to induce the sigma(W) regulon is dependent on both sigma(W) and the cognate anti-sigma, RsiW, but is independent of the transition state regulator AbrB. These results suggest that the membrane-localized RsiW anti-sigma(W) factor mediates the transcriptional response to cell wall stress. Our findings are consistent with the idea that one function of ECF sigma factors is to coordinate antibiosis stress responses and cell envelope homeostasis.
Cao
Min
M
Department of Microbiology, Cornell uhniversity, Ithaca, NY 14853-8101, USA.
Wang
Tao
T
Ye
Rick
R
Helmann
John D
JD
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001412:Bacillus subtilis / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D001483:Base Sequence; D002473:Cell Wall / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics; D024881:Drug Resistance, Bacterial; D015870:Gene Expression / Q000187:drug effects; D005798:Genes, Bacterial / Q000187:drug effects; D017930:Genes, Reporter; D007763:Lac Operon; D020411:Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis; D018085:Regulon / Q000187:drug effects; D012808:Sigma Factor / Q000235:genetics*; D014158:Transcription, Genetic / Q000187:drug effects; D014640:Vancomycin / Q000494:pharmacology
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D004269:DNA, Bacterial; C413458:SigW protein, Bacillus subtilis; D012808:Sigma Factor; D014640:Vancomycin