title: 6S-1 RNA function leads to a delay in sporulation in Bacillus subtilis.
abstract: We have discovered that 6S-1 RNA (encoded by bsrA) is important for appropriate timing of sporulation in Bacillus subtilis in that cells lacking 6S-1 RNA sporulate earlier than wild-type cells. The time to generate a mature spore once the decision to sporulate has been made is unaffected by 6S-1 RNA, and, therefore, we propose that it is the timing of onset of sporulation that is altered. Interestingly, the presence of cells lacking 6S-1 RNA in coculture leads to all cell types exhibiting an early-sporulation phenotype. We propose that cells lacking 6S-1 RNA modify their environment in a manner that promotes early sporulation. In support of this model, resuspension of wild-type cells in conditioned medium from ΔbsrA cultures also resulted in early sporulation. Use of Escherichia coli growth as a reporter of the nutritional status of conditioned media suggested that B. subtilis cells lacking 6S-1 RNA reduce the nutrient content of their environment earlier than wild-type cells. Several pathways known to impact the timing of sporulation, such as the skf- and sdp-dependent cannibalism pathways, were eliminated as potential targets of 6S-1 RNA-mediated changes, suggesting that 6S-1 RNA activity defines a novel mechanism for altering the timing of onset of sporulation. In addition, 6S-2 RNA does not influence the timing of sporulation, providing further evidence of the independent influences of these two related RNAs on cell physiology.
authors: Department of Bacteriology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, USA.
authors: Amy T
authors: AT
authors: Cavanagh
authors: Karen M
authors: KM
authors: Wassarman
mesh_terms: D001412:Bacillus subtilis / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism*; D015536:Down-Regulation; D015964:Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial; D012329:RNA, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D022661:RNA, Untranslated; D013171:Spores, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: C411065:6S RNA; D012329:RNA, Bacterial; D022661:RNA, Untranslated