title: Bacillus subtilis diacylglycerol kinase (DgkA) enhances efficient sporulation.
abstract: The sn-1,2-diacylglycerol kinase homologue gene, dgkA, is a sporulation gene indispensable for the maintenance of spore stability and viability in Bacillus subtilis. After 6 h of growth in resuspension medium, the endospore morphology of the dgkA mutant by standard phase-contrast microscopy was normal; however, after 9 h, the endospores appeared mostly dark by phase-contrast microscopy, suggesting a defect in the spores. Moreover, electron microscopic studies revealed an abnormal cortex structure in mutant endospores 6 h after the onset of sporulation, an indication of cortex degeneration. In addition, a significant decrease in the dipicolinic acid content of mutant spores was observed. We also found that dgkA is expressed mainly during the vegetative phase. It seems likely that either the DgkA produced during growth prepares the cell for an essential step in sporulation or the enzyme persists into sporulation and performs an essential function.
authors.affiliation: International Environmental and Agricultural Science, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, Fuchu, Tokyo 183-8509, Japan.
authors.forename: Samuel
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Amiteye
authors.forename: Kazuo
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kobayashi
authors.forename: Daisuke
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Imamura
authors.forename: Shigeo
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hosoya
authors.forename: Naotake
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ogasawara
authors.forename: Tsutomu
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Sato
mesh_terms: D001412:Bacillus subtilis / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D019852:Diacylglycerol Kinase / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D015964:Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D009154:Mutation; D013171:Spores, Bacterial / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D019852:Diacylglycerol Kinase