title: Modification of GerQ reveals a functional relationship between Tgl and YabG in the coat of Bacillus subtilis spores.
abstract: Here we describe the functional relationship between YabG and transglutaminase (Tgl), enzymes that modify the spore coat proteins of Bacillus subtilis. In wild-type spores at 37 degrees C, Tgl mediates the crosslinking of GerQ into higher molecular mass forms; however, some GerQ multimers are found in tgl mutant spores, indicating that Tgl is not essential. Immunoblotting showed that spores isolated from a yabG mutant after sporulation at 37 degrees C contain only very low levels of GerQ multimers. Heat treatment for 20 min at 60 degrees C, which maximally activates the enzymatic activity of Tgl, caused crosslinking of GerQ in isolated yabG spores but not in tgl/yabG double-mutant spores. In addition, the germination frequency of the tgl/yabG spores in the presence of l-alanine with or without heat activation at 60 degrees C was lower than that of wild-type spores. These findings suggest that Tgl cooperates with YabG to mediate the temperature-dependent modification of the coat proteins, a process associated with spore germination in B. subtilis.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Setsunan University, Hirakata, Osaka 573-0101.
authors.forename: Ritsuko
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kuwana
authors.forename: Naoyuki
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Okuda
authors.forename: Hiromu
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Takamatsu
authors.forename: Kazuhito
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Watabe
mesh_terms: D000645:Ammonium Sulfate / Q000494:pharmacology; D001412:Bacillus subtilis / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D010450:Endopeptidases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D006358:Hot Temperature; D006867:Hydrolases / Q000378:metabolism; D012808:Sigma Factor / Q000378:metabolism; D013171:Spores, Bacterial / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000235:genetics* / Q000254:growth & development; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000378:metabolism*; D011503:Transglutaminases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D012808:Sigma Factor; D014157:Transcription Factors; C092468:spoIIR protein, Bacillus subtilis; C030069:spore-specific proteins, Bacillus; C406204:yabG protein, Bacillus subtilis; D011503:Transglutaminases; C433796:CwlJ protein, Bacillus subtilis; D006867:Hydrolases; D010450:Endopeptidases; D000645:Ammonium Sulfate