title: Blue light activates the sigmaB-dependent stress response of Bacillus subtilis via YtvA.
abstract: Here we present evidence for a physiologically relevant light response mediated by the LOV domain-containing protein YtvA in the soil bacterium Bacillus subtilis. The loss and overproduction of YtvA abolish and enhance, respectively, the increase in sigma(B)-controlled ctc promoter activity at moderate light intensities. These effects were absent in the dark and in red light but present under blue-light illumination. Thus, activation of the general stress response in B. subtilis is modulated by blue light.
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Microbial Physiology, Swammerdam Institute for Life Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Amsterdam, Nieuwe Achtergracht 166, 1018WV Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Marcela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Avila-Pérez
authors.forename: Klaas J
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Hellingwerf
authors.forename: Remco
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kort
mesh_terms: D001412:Bacillus subtilis / Q000502:physiology / Q000528:radiation effects*; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D003116:Color; D005420:Flavoproteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D008027:Light; D017434:Protein Structure, Tertiary / Q000502:physiology; D012808:Sigma Factor / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D005420:Flavoproteins; C079011:SigB protein, Bacteria; D012808:Sigma Factor