title: Characterization of a spore-specific protein of the Bacillus cereus group.
abstract: Bc1245 is a monocistronic chromosomal gene of Bacillus cereus ATCC 14579 encoding a putative protein of 143 amino acids identified in this study to have a spore-related function in B. cereus. Bc1245 is highly conserved in the genome of members of the B. cereus group, indicating an important function of the gene in this group of bacteria. Quantitative PCR revealed that bc1245 is transcribed late in sporulation (upon formation of phase-bright spores) and at the same time as the mother cell-specific transcription factor σ(K) . The σ(K)  regulon includes structural components of the spore (such as coat proteins), and it is therefore plausible that bc1245 might encode a structural outer spore protein. This was confirmed by detection of BC1245 in exosporium extracts from B. cereus by immunoblotting against BC1245 antiserum.
authors.affiliation: Department of Food Safety and Infection Biology, Section for Food Safety, Norwegian School of Veterinary Science, Oslo, Norway.
authors.forename: Cecilie
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: From
authors.forename: Menno
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: van der Voort
authors.forename: Tjakko
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Abee
authors.forename: Per Einar
authors.initials: PE
authors.lastname: Granum
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D001409:Bacillus cereus / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D001483:Base Sequence; D015964:Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D018085:Regulon; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D013171:Spores, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D014157:Transcription Factors; C084190:sigma K