title: Antisense-RNA-mediated decreased synthesis of small, acid-soluble spore proteins leads to decreased resistance of clostridium perfringens spores to moist heat and UV radiation.
abstract: Previous work has suggested that a group of alpha/beta-type small, acid-soluble spore proteins (SASP) is involved in the resistance of Clostridium perfringens spores to moist heat. However, this suggestion is based on the analysis of C. perfringens spores lacking only one of the three genes encoding alpha/beta-type SASP in this organism. We have now used antisense RNA to decrease levels of alpha/beta-type SASP in C. perfringens spores by approximately 90%. These spores had significantly reduced resistance to both moist heat and UV radiation but not to dry heat. These results clearly demonstrate the important role of alpha/beta-type SASP in the resistance of C. perfringens spores.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon 97331, USA.
authors.forename: Deepa
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Raju
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Setlow
authors.forename: Mahfuzur R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Sarker
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D001483:Base Sequence; D003016:Clostridium perfringens / Q000528:radiation effects*; D006358:Hot Temperature; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D016372:RNA, Antisense / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013171:Spores, Bacterial / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000528:radiation effects; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays
chemical_list: D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D016372:RNA, Antisense