title: A novel RNA polymerase-binding protein controlling genes involved in spore germination in Bacillus subtilis.
abstract: A growing class of proteins regulates transcription through interaction with DNA-dependent RNA polymerase. Here we report that a recently identified, highly conserved sporulation gene ylyA encodes a novel RNA polymerase-binding protein that influences the expression of genes under the control of the late-acting, sporulation sigma factor σ(G) in Bacillus subtilis. Spores from a ylyA mutant exhibited defects in germination corresponding to changes in the levels of membrane receptors for spore germinants and a protein channel governing the release of dipicolinic acid and hydration of the spore core during germination. Purified YlyA interacted with RNA polymerase and stimulated transcription from promoters dependent on σ(G) but not promoters dependent on the housekeeping sigma factor σ(A) . YlyA is a previously unrecognized RNA polymerase-binding protein that is dedicated to modulating the expression of genes involved in spore germination.
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA.
authors.forename: Bjorn A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Traag
authors.forename: Arturo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ramirez-Peralta
authors.forename: Anna F
authors.initials: AF
authors.lastname: Wang Erickson
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Setlow
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Losick
mesh_terms: D001412:Bacillus subtilis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000254:growth & development*; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D012321:DNA-Directed RNA Polymerases / Q000378:metabolism*; D015964:Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial; D055786:Gene Knockout Techniques; D011485:Protein Binding; D012808:Sigma Factor / Q000378:metabolism; D013171:Spores, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics* / Q000254:growth & development*
chemical_list: D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D012808:Sigma Factor; D012321:DNA-Directed RNA Polymerases