Analysis of temporal gene expression during Bacillus subtilis spore germination and outgrowth.
Bacillus subtilis forms dormant spores upon nutrient depletion. Under favorable environmental conditions, the spore breaks its dormancy and resumes growth in a process called spore germination and outgrowth. To elucidate the physiological processes that occur during the transition of the dormant spore to an actively growing vegetative cell, we studied this process in a time-dependent manner by a combination of microscopy, analysis of extracellular metabolites, and a genome-wide analysis of transcription. The results indicate the presence of abundant levels of late sporulation transcripts in dormant spores. In addition, the results suggest the existence of a complex and well-regulated spore outgrowth program, involving the temporal expression of at least 30% of the B. subtilis genome.
Keijser
Bart J F
BJ
Swammerdam Institute for Life Sciences, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. B.keijser@TNO.nl
Ter Beek
Alex
A
Rauwerda
Han
H
Schuren
Frank
F
Montijn
Roy
R
van der Spek
Hans
H
Brul
Stanley
S
D001412:Bacillus subtilis / Q000166:cytology / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D015870:Gene Expression; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D020411:Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis; D012329:RNA, Bacterial / Q000032:analysis; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis; D013171:Spores, Bacterial / Q000737:chemistry / Q000166:cytology / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D013997:Time Factors; D014158:Transcription, Genetic
D012329:RNA, Bacterial; D012333:RNA, Messenger