title: Role of altered rpoB alleles in Bacillus subtilis sporulation and spore resistance to heat, hydrogen peroxide, formaldehyde, and glutaraldehyde.
abstract: Mutations in the RNA polymerase β-subunit gene rpoB causing resistance to rifampicin (Rif(R)) in Bacillus subtilis were previously shown to lead to alterations in the expression of a number of global phenotypes known to be under transcriptional control. To better understand the influence of rpoB mutations on sporulation and spore resistance to heat and chemicals, cells and spores of the wild-type and twelve distinct congenic Rif(R) mutant strains of B. subtilis were tested. Different levels of glucose catabolite repression during sporulation and spore resistance to heat and chemicals were observed in the Rif(R) mutants, indicating the important role played by the RNA polymerase β-subunit, not only in the catalytic aspect of transcription, but also in the initiation of sporulation and in the spore resistance properties of B. subtilis.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Aerospace Medicine, German Aerospace Center, Linder Hoehe, 51147 Cologne, Germany. ralf.moeller@dlr.de
authors.forename: Ralf
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Moeller
authors.forename: Ignacija
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Vlašić
authors.forename: Günther
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Reitz
authors.forename: Wayne L
authors.initials: WL
authors.lastname: Nicholson
mesh_terms: D000483:Alleles; D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001412:Bacillus subtilis / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D012321:DNA-Directed RNA Polymerases / Q000235:genetics*; D024881:Drug Resistance, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics; D005557:Formaldehyde / Q000494:pharmacology; D005947:Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D005976:Glutaral / Q000494:pharmacology; D006358:Hot Temperature; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide / Q000494:pharmacology; D009154:Mutation; D013171:Spores, Bacterial / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000235:genetics; D014867:Water / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; D014867:Water; D005557:Formaldehyde; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide; D012321:DNA-Directed RNA Polymerases; C105078:RNA polymerase beta subunit; D005947:Glucose; D005976:Glutaral