title: The GTPase function of YvcJ and its subcellular relocalization are dependent on growth conditions in Bacillus subtilis.
abstract: We have recently shown that the Bacillus subtilis GTPase YvcJ is involved in the phosphorylation of an unidentified cellular component and that the deletion of yvcJ induced a decrease in competence efficiency. In this paper, we report that growth conditions influence both the YvcJ-dependent phosphorylation event and the localization of this protein. More precisely, we have observed that YvcJ can be localized in the cell either as a helical-like pattern or as foci close to the poles and the septa depending on growth phase and on growth medium. In addition, we show that the mutation of the catalytic lysine residue (K22) located in the Walker A motif of YvcJ, and necessary for its GTPase activity, induces a decrease in competence efficiency similar to that observed for the yvcJ null mutant. This mutation also inhibits the YvcJ-dependent phosphorylation event. Furthermore, a phylogenetic analysis of the YvcJ homologues shows that this protein is ancient in Bacteria (being possibly present in their last common ancestor) and has been conserved in a number of major bacterial phyla, suggesting that this protein has an important function in this domain of life. To sum up, even if the precise cellular role of this ancient protein remains unknown, our data show that the GTPase activity of B. subtilis YvcJ and its function in the phosphorylation of a cellular component are influenced by the growth conditions, and are important for the effect of YvcJ on competence efficiency.
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire de Chimie Bactérienne, Aix-Marseille Université, France. fpompeo @ ifr88.cnrs-mrs.fr
authors.forename: Frédérique
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Pompeo
authors.forename: Jennifer
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Luciano
authors.forename: Céline
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Brochier-Armanet
authors.forename: Anne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Galinier
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D001412:Bacillus subtilis / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000235:genetics; D017124:Conserved Sequence; D020558:GTP Phosphohydrolases / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D005810:Multigene Family; D009154:Mutation; D010766:Phosphorylation; D010802:Phylogeny; D017434:Protein Structure, Tertiary; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D017384:Sequence Deletion
chemical_list: D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins; D020558:GTP Phosphohydrolases