title: Plasmid-encoded genes influence exosporium assembly and morphology in Bacillus megaterium QM B1551 spores.
abstract: Spores of Bacillus megaterium QM B1551 are encased in a morphologically distinctive exosporium. We demonstrate here that genes encoded on the indigenous pBM500 and pBM600 plasmids are required for exosporium assembly and or stability in spores of this strain. Bioinformatic analyses identified genes encoding orthologues of the B. cereus-family exosporium nap and basal layer proteins within the B. megaterium genome. Transcriptional analyses, supported by electron and fluorescent microscopy, indicate that the pole-localized nap, identified here for the first time in B. megaterium QM B1551 spores, is comprised of the BclA1 protein. The role of the BxpB protein, which forms the basal layer of the exosporium in B. cereus spores, is less clear since spores of a null mutant strain display an apparently normal morphology. Retention of the localized nap in bxpB null spores suggests that B. megaterium employs an alternative mechanism to that used by B. cereus spores in anchoring the nap to the spore surface.
authors: Department of Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology, Institute of Biotechnology, University of Cambridge, Tennis Court Road, Cambridge CB2 1QT, UK.
authors: Julia
authors: J
authors: Manetsberger
authors: Department of Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology, Institute of Biotechnology, University of Cambridge, Tennis Court Road, Cambridge CB2 1QT, UK.
authors: Elizabeth A H
authors: EA
authors: Hall
authors: Department of Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology, Institute of Biotechnology, University of Cambridge, Tennis Court Road, Cambridge CB2 1QT, UK gc301@cam.ac.uk.
authors: Graham
authors: G
authors: Christie
mesh_terms: D001409:Bacillus cereus / Q000235:genetics; D001410:Bacillus megaterium / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D002473:Cell Wall / Q000378:metabolism; D019295:Computational Biology; D005798:Genes, Bacterial; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000235:genetics; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; D008856:Microscopy, Fluorescence; D009154:Mutation; D010957:Plasmids; D013171:Spores, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology / Q000648:ultrastructure*
chemical_list: D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins
keywords: Bacillus; exosporium; hairy nap; indigenous plasmids; spores