Suppression of abnormal morphology and extracytoplasmic function sigma activity in Bacillus subtilis ugtP mutant cells by expression of heterologous glucolipid synthases from Acholeplasma laidlawii.
Glucolipids in Bacillus subtilis are synthesized by UgtP processively transferring glucose from UDP-glucose to diacylglycerol. Here we conclude that the abnormal morphology of a ugtP mutant is caused by lack of glucolipids, since the same morphology arises after abolition of glucolipid production by disruption of pgcA and gtaB, which are involved in UDP-glucose synthesis. Conversely, expression of a monoglucosyldiacylglycerol (MGlcDG) produced by 1,2-diacylglycerol 3-glucosyltransferase from Acholeplasma laidlawii (alMGS) almost completely suppressed the ugtP disruptant phenotype. Activation of extracytoplasmic function (ECF) sigmas (SigM, SigV, and SigX) in the ugtP mutant was decreased by alMGS expression, and was suppressed to low levels by MgSO4addition. When alMGS and alDGS (A. laidlawii 1,2-diacylglycerol-3-glucose (1-2)-glucosyltransferase producing diglucosyldiacylglycerol (DGlcDG)) were simultaneously expressed, SigX activation was repressed to wild type level. These observations suggest that MGlcDG molecules are required for maintenance of B. subtilis cell shape and regulation of ECF sigmas, and DGlcDG regulates SigX activity.
a Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Graduate School of Science and Engineering , Saitama University , Saitama , Japan.
Satoshi
S
Matsuoka
a Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Graduate School of Science and Engineering , Saitama University , Saitama , Japan.
Takahiro
T
Seki
a Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Graduate School of Science and Engineering , Saitama University , Saitama , Japan.
Kouji
K
Matsumoto
a Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Graduate School of Science and Engineering , Saitama University , Saitama , Japan.
Hiroshi
H
Hara
D000128:Acholeplasma laidlawii / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000235:genetics; D001412:Bacillus subtilis / Q000166:cytology* / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D015870:Gene Expression; D005964:Glucosyltransferases / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D009154:Mutation; D012808:Sigma Factor / Q000378:metabolism*; D014532:Uridine Diphosphate Glucose / Q000378:metabolism
D012808:Sigma Factor; D005964:Glucosyltransferases; D014532:Uridine Diphosphate Glucose
Bacillus subtilis; ECF sigma; cell membrane integrity; glucolipid; ugtP