A Novel Function of δ Factor from Bacillus subtilis as a Transcriptional Repressor.
δ, a small protein found in most Gram-positive bacteria was, for a long time, thought to be a subunit of RNA polymerase (RNAP) and was shown to be involved in recycling of RNAP at the end of each round of transcription. However, how δ participates in both up-regulation and down-regulation of genes in vivo remains unclear. We have recently shown, in addition to the recycling of RNAP, δ functions as a transcriptional activator by binding to an A-rich sequence located immediately upstream of the -35 element, consequently facilitating the open complex formation. The result had explained the mechanism of up-regulation of the genes by δ. Here, we show that Bacillus subtilis δ could also function as a transcriptional repressor. Our results demonstrate that δ binds to an A-rich sequence located near the -35 element of the spo0B promoter, the gene involved in the regulatory cascade of bacterial sporulation and inhibits the open complex formation due to steric clash with σ region 4.2. We observed a significant increase in the mRNA level of the spo0B gene in a δ-knock-out strain of B. subtilis compared with the wild-type. Thus, the results report a novel function of δ, and suggest the mechanism of down-regulation of genes in vivo by the protein.
From the Department of Chemistry, Bose Institute, 93/1 APC Road and.
Ranjit Kumar
RK
Prajapati
the Department of Biophysics, Molecular Biology and Bioinformatics, University of Calcutta, Kolkata 700009, India.
Runa
R
Sur
From the Department of Chemistry, Bose Institute, 93/1 APC Road and jayanta@jcbose.ac.in.
Jayanta
J
Mukhopadhyay
D001412:Bacillus subtilis / Q000502:physiology*; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D012097:Repressor Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D020218:Response Elements / Q000502:physiology*; D013171:Spores, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D012097:Repressor Proteins; C030069:spore-specific proteins, Bacillus
Bacillus; bacterial transcription; gene regulation; repressor protein; sporulation
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