title: Analysis of Spo0M function in Bacillus subtilis.
abstract: Spo0M has been previously reported as a regulator of sporulation in Bacillus subtilis; however, little is known about the mechanisms through which it participates in sporulation, and there is no information to date that relates this protein to other processes in the bacterium. In this work we present evidence from proteomic, protein-protein interaction, morphological, subcellular localization microscopy and bioinformatics studies which indicate that Spo0M function is not necessarily restricted to sporulation, and point towards its involvement in other stages of the vegetative life cycle. In the current study, we provide evidence that Spo0M interacts with cytoskeletal proteins involved in cell division, which suggest a function additional to that previously described in sporulation. Spo0M expression is not restricted to the transition phase or sporulation; rather, its expression begins during the early stages of growth and Spo0M localization in B. subtilis depends on the bacterial life cycle and could be related to an additional proposed function. This is supported by our discovery of homologs in a broad distribution of bacterial genera, even in non-sporulating species. Our work paves the way for re-evaluation of the role of Spo0M in bacterial cell.
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Biotecnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Apdo, Cuernavaca, Morelos, México.
authors.forename: Luz Adriana
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Vega-Cabrera
authors.affiliation: Laboratorio Nacional de Microscopía Avanzada, Avenida Universidad 2001, Universidad Autónoma del Estado de Morelos, Cuernavaca, Morelos, México.
authors.forename: Adán
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Guerrero
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Biotecnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Apdo, Cuernavaca, Morelos, México.
authors.forename: José Luis
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Rodríguez-Mejía
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Biotecnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Apdo, Cuernavaca, Morelos, México.
authors.forename: María Luisa
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Tabche
authors.affiliation: Laboratorio Nacional de Microscopía Avanzada, Avenida Universidad 2001, Universidad Autónoma del Estado de Morelos, Cuernavaca, Morelos, México.
authors.forename: Christopher D
authors.initials: CD
authors.lastname: Wood
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Biotecnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Apdo, Cuernavaca, Morelos, México.
authors.forename: Rosa-María
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Gutiérrez-Rios
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Biotecnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Apdo, Cuernavaca, Morelos, México.
authors.forename: Enrique
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Merino
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Biotecnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Apdo, Cuernavaca, Morelos, México.
authors.forename: Liliana
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-8927-1733
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Pardo-López
mesh_terms: D001412:Bacillus subtilis / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D002455:Cell Division / Q000235:genetics; D003598:Cytoskeletal Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics*; D008018:Life Cycle Stages / Q000235:genetics; D060066:Protein Interaction Maps; D040901:Proteomics; D013171:Spores, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics* / Q000254:growth & development
chemical_list: D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D003598:Cytoskeletal Proteins; C115343:spo0M protein, Bacillus subtilis