Crystal protein synthesis is dependent on early sporulation gene expression in Bacillus sphaericus.
Insertional mutations in the spo0A and spoIIAC genes of Bacillus sphaericus 2362 were prepared by conjugation with Escherichia coli using a suicide plasmid containing cloned portions of the target genes. The mutants resembled their Bacillus subtilis counterparts phenotypically and were devoid of crystal proteins as determined by electron microscopy, SDS-PAGE and Western blots. The mutants had greatly reduced toxicity to anopheline mosquito larvae compared to the parental strain. We conclude that crystal protein synthesis in this bacterium is dependent on expression of early sporulation genes.
El-Bendary
Magda
M
School of Life Sciences, Heriot-Watt University, Riccarton, Edinburgh EH14 4AS, UK.
Priest
Fergus G
FG
Charles
Jean-François
JF
Mitchell
Wilfrid J
WJ
D000818:Animals; D000852:Anopheles / Q000382:microbiology; D001407:Bacillus / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000472:pathogenicity / Q000502:physiology*; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D015964:Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial; D007814:Larva / Q000382:microbiology; D009154:Mutation; D012808:Sigma Factor / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D013171:Spores, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000378:metabolism*; D014158:Transcription, Genetic
D001426:Bacterial Proteins; C064971:FliA protein, Bacteria; D012808:Sigma Factor; D014157:Transcription Factors; C053999:crystal protein, Bacillus subtilis