title: clpC operon regulates cell architecture and sporulation in Bacillus anthracis.
abstract: The clpC operon is known to regulate several processes such as genetic competence, protein degradation and stress survival in bacteria. Here, we describe the role of clpC operon in Bacillus anthracis. We generated knockout strains of the clpC operon genes to investigate the impact of CtsR, McsA, McsB and ClpC deletion on essential processes of B. anthracis. We observed that growth, cell division, sporulation and germination were severely affected in mcsB and clpC deleted strains, while none of deletions affected toxin secretion. Growth defect in these strains was pronounced at elevated temperature. The growth pattern gets restored on complementation of mcsB and clpC in respective mutants. Electron microscopic examination revealed that mcsB and clpC deletion also causes defect in septum formation leading to cell elongation. These vegetative cell deformities were accompanied by inability of mutant strains to generate morphologically intact spores. Higher levels of polyhydroxybutyrate granules accumulation were also observed in these deletion strains, indicating a defect in sporulation process. Our results demonstrate, for the first time, the vital role played by McsB and ClpC in physiology of B. anthracis and open up further interest on this operon, which might be of importance to success of B. anthracis as pathogen.
authors.affiliation: CSIR-Institute of Genomics and Integrative Biology, Delhi, 110007, India.
authors.forename: Lalit K
authors.initials: LK
authors.lastname: Singh
authors.forename: Neha
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Dhasmana
authors.forename: Andaleeb
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sajid
authors.forename: Prasun
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kumar
authors.forename: Asani
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bhaduri
authors.forename: Mitasha
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bharadwaj
authors.forename: Sheetal
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gandotra
authors.forename: Vipin C
authors.initials: VC
authors.lastname: Kalia
authors.forename: Taposh K
authors.initials: TK
authors.lastname: Das
authors.forename: Ajay K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Goel
authors.forename: Andrei P
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Pomerantsev
authors.forename: Richa
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Misra
authors.forename: Ulf
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Gerth
authors.forename: Stephen H
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Leppla
authors.forename: Yogendra
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Singh
mesh_terms: D000942:Antigens, Bacterial / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D001408:Bacillus anthracis / Q000166:cytology* / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D001427:Bacterial Toxins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D006360:Heat-Shock Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D009876:Operon / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D013171:Spores, Bacterial / Q000166:cytology / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D000942:Antigens, Bacterial; D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D001427:Bacterial Toxins; C087481:ClpC protein, Bacteria; D006360:Heat-Shock Proteins; C030325:anthrax toxin