title: Antagonistic role of CotG and CotH on spore germination and coat formation in Bacillus subtilis.
abstract: Spore formers are bacteria able to survive harsh environmental conditions by differentiating a specialized, highly resistant spore. In Bacillus subtilis, the model system for spore formers, the recently discovered crust and the proteinaceous coat are the external layers that surround the spore and contribute to its survival. The coat is formed by about seventy different proteins assembled and organized into three layers by the action of a subset of regulatory proteins, referred to as morphogenetic factors. CotH is a morphogenetic factor needed for the development of spores able to germinate efficiently and involved in the assembly of nine outer coat proteins, including CotG. Here we report that CotG has negative effects on spore germination and on the assembly of at least three outer coat proteins. Such negative action is exerted only in mutants lacking CotH, thus suggesting an antagonistic effect of the two proteins, with CotH counteracting the negative role of CotG.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Federico II University of Naples, Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Anella
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Saggese
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Federico II University of Naples, Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Veronica
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Scamardella
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Federico II University of Naples, Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Teja
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Sirec
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Federico II University of Naples, Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Giuseppina
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Cangiano
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Federico II University of Naples, Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Rachele
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Isticato
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Federico II University of Naples, Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Pane
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Federico II University of Naples, Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Angela
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Amoresano
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Federico II University of Naples, Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Ezio
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ricca
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Federico II University of Naples, Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Loredana
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Baccigalupi
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D001412:Bacillus subtilis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D001483:Base Sequence; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics; D005798:Genes, Bacterial; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009113:Muramidase / Q000494:pharmacology; D009154:Mutation; D055503:Protein Multimerization / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D013171:Spores, Bacterial / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D001426:Bacterial Proteins; C101016:CotH protein, Bacillus subtilis; D004269:DNA, Bacterial; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins; C091352:cotG protein, Bacillus subtilis; D009113:Muramidase