The BceRS two-component regulatory system induces expression of the bacitracin transporter, BceAB, in Bacillus subtilis.
BceA and bceB encode a nucleotide-binding domain (NBD) and membrane-spanning domain (MSD) subunit, respectively, of an ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporter in Bacillus subtilis. Disruption of these genes resulted in hypersensitivity to bacitracin, a peptide antibiotic that is non-ribosomally synthesized in some strains of Bacillus. Northern hybridization analyses showed that expression of the bceAB operon is induced by bacitracin present in the growth medium. The bceRS genes encoding a two-component regulatory system are located immediately upstream of bceAB. Deletion analyses of the bceAB promoter together with DNase I footprinting experiments revealed that a sensor kinase, BceS, responds to extracellular bacitracin either directly or indirectly and transmits a signal to a cognate response regulator, BceR. The regulator binds directly to the upstream region of the bceAB promoter and upregulates the expression of bceAB genes. The bcrC gene product is additionally involved in bacitracin resistance. The expression of bcrC is dependent on the ECF sigma factors, sigmaM and sigmaX, but not on the BceRS two-component system. In view of these results, possible roles of BceA, BceB and BcrC in bacitracin resistance of B. subtilis 168 are discussed.
Ohki
Reiko
R
Department of Molecular Biology, School of Health Sciences, Kyorin University, 476 Miyashita, Hachiouji, Tokyo 192-0005, Japan. ohkir@kyorin-u.ac.jp
Giyanto
Tateno
Kozue
K
Masuyama
Waka
W
Moriya
Shigeki
S
Kobayashi
Kazuo
K
Ogasawara
Naotake
N
D018528:ATP-Binding Cassette Transporters / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000378:metabolism; D001412:Bacillus subtilis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D001414:Bacitracin / Q000378:metabolism*; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D018983:DNA Footprinting; D024881:Drug Resistance, Bacterial; D015964:Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial; D009876:Operon; D012045:Regulatory Sequences, Nucleic Acid; D014158:Transcription, Genetic
D018528:ATP-Binding Cassette Transporters; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D001414:Bacitracin