Transcriptional and functional characterization of the gene encoding acyl carrier protein in Bacillus subtilis.
Acyl carrier protein (ACP) is a universal and highly conserved carrier of acyl intermediates during fatty acid biosynthesis. The molecular mechanisms of regulation of the acpP structural gene, as well as the function of its gene product, are poorly characterized in Bacillus subtilis and other Gram-positive organisms. Here, we report that transcription of acpP takes place from two different promoters: PfapR and PacpP. Expression of acpP from PfapR is coordinated with a cluster of genes involved in lipid synthesis (the fapR operon); the operon consists of fapR-plsX-fabD-fabG-acpP. PacpP is located immediately upstream of the acpP coding sequence, and is necessary and sufficient for normal fatty acid synthesis. We also report that acpP is essential for growth and differentiation, and that ACP localizes in the mother-cell compartment of the sporangium during spore formation. These results provide the first detailed characterization of the expression of the ACP-encoding gene in a Gram-positive bacterium, and highlight the importance of this protein in B. subtilis physiology.
Instituto de Biología Molecular y Celular de Rosario, and Departamento de Microbiología, Facultad de Ciencias Bioquímicas y Farmacéuticas, Universidad Nacional de Rosario, Rosario, Argentina.
Mariano A
MA
Martinez
Instituto de Biología Molecular y Celular de Rosario, and Departamento de Microbiología, Facultad de Ciencias Bioquímicas y Farmacéuticas, Universidad Nacional de Rosario, Rosario, Argentina.
Diego
D
de Mendoza
Instituto de Biología Molecular y Celular de Rosario, and Departamento de Microbiología, Facultad de Ciencias Bioquímicas y Farmacéuticas, Universidad Nacional de Rosario, Rosario, Argentina.
Gustavo E
GE
Schujman
D000213:Acyl Carrier Protein / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D001412:Bacillus subtilis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D001483:Base Sequence; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000235:genetics; D015964:Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial; D005798:Genes, Bacterial; D050356:Lipid Metabolism; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D005810:Multigene Family; D009876:Operon; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000378:metabolism; D024363:Transcription Initiation Site; D014158:Transcription, Genetic
D000213:Acyl Carrier Protein; D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D014157:Transcription Factors