title: Functional analysis of 11 putative essential genes in Bacillus subtilis.
abstract: Systematic inactivation of Bacillus subtilis genes has previously revealed that 271 are indispensable for growth. In the present study, 11 of these (yacA, ydiB, ydiC, ykqC, ylaN, yloQ, ymdA, yneS, yqeI, yqjK and ywlC) were identified as genes encoding proteins of unknown function. By analysing the effects of protein depletion, and examining the subcellular localization of these proteins, a start has been made in elucidating their functions. It was found that four of these genes (ydiB, yloQ, yqeI and ywlC) were not required for B. subtilis viability. Analysis of the localization of YkqC suggests that it co-localizes with ribosomes, and it is proposed that it is involved in processing either rRNA or specific mRNAs when they are associated with the ribosome. The results suggest that other novel essential proteins may be involved in lipid synthesis and control of cell wall synthesis.
authors.affiliation: Sir William Dunn School of Pathology, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3RE, UK.
authors.forename: Alison
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hunt
authors.affiliation: Sir William Dunn School of Pathology, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3RE, UK.
authors.forename: Joy P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Rawlins
authors.affiliation: Prolysis Ltd, Oxford University Begbroke Science Park, Sandy Lane, Yarnton, Oxfordshire OX5 1PF, UK.
authors.forename: Helena B
authors.initials: HB
authors.lastname: Thomaides
authors.affiliation: Sir William Dunn School of Pathology, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3RE, UK.
authors.forename: Jeff
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Errington
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D001412:Bacillus subtilis / Q000737:chemistry / Q000166:cytology / Q000235:genetics* / Q000254:growth & development*; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology; D018533:Biomass; D002473:Cell Wall / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D003593:Cytoplasm / Q000737:chemistry; D003720:Densitometry; D017353:Gene Deletion; D005798:Genes, Bacterial; D020043:Genes, Essential; D008055:Lipids / Q000235:genetics; D008856:Microscopy, Fluorescence; D016254:Mutagenesis, Insertional; D010641:Phenotype; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D012270:Ribosomes / Q000737:chemistry; D014295:Trimethoprim / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D008055:Lipids; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins; D014295:Trimethoprim