Functional relationship between SpoVIF and GerE in gene regulation during sporulation of Bacillus subtilis.
The sporulation-specific SpoVIF (YjcC) protein of Bacillus subtilis is essential for the development of heat-resistant spores. The GerE protein, the smallest member of the LuxR-FixJ family, contains a helix-turn-helix (HTH) motif and is involved in the expression of various sporulation-specific genes. In this study, the gene expression and protein composition of sporulating spoVIF-negative cells were analysed. CgeA, CotG and CotS, which are GerE-dependent coat proteins, were not expressed in the spoVIF-negative cells. Northern blotting showed that SpoVIF regulated the transcription of cgeA, cotG and cotS in a manner similar to that of GerE. In spoVIF-negative cells, gerE mRNA was transcribed normally, but immunoblot analysis using anti-GerE antiserum showed that the quantity of GerE protein was considerably less than that in wild-type controls. Using GFP (green fluorescent protein) fusion proteins, the localization of SpoVIF and GerE was observed by fluorescence microscopy. SpoVIF-GFP was detectable in the mother cell compartment, as was GerE-GFP. These results suggest that SpoVIF directly or indirectly controls the function of the GerE protein, and that SpoVIF is required for gene regulation during the latter stages of sporulation.
Kuwana
Ritsuko
R
Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Setsunan University, Hirakata, Osaka 573-0101, Japan.
Ikejiri
Hiromi
H
Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Setsunan University, Hirakata, Osaka 573-0101, Japan.
Yamamura
Satoko
S
Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Setsunan University, Hirakata, Osaka 573-0101, Japan.
Takamatsu
Hiromu
H
Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Setsunan University, Hirakata, Osaka 573-0101, Japan.
Watabe
Kazuhito
K
Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Setsunan University, Hirakata, Osaka 573-0101, Japan.
D001412:Bacillus subtilis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology*; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology*; D001483:Base Sequence; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics; D015964:Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial; D005798:Genes, Bacterial; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D010957:Plasmids / Q000235:genetics; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D013171:Spores, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D014158:Transcription, Genetic
D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D004269:DNA, Bacterial; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins; C030069:spore-specific proteins, Bacillus