Effects of major spore-specific DNA binding proteins on Bacillus subtilis sporulation and spore properties

J Bacteriol. 2000 Dec;182(24):6906-12. doi: 10.1128/JB.182.24.6906-6912.2000.

Abstract

Sporulation of a Bacillus subtilis strain (termed alpha(-) beta(-)) lacking the majority of the alpha/beta-type small, acid-soluble spore proteins (SASP) that are synthesized in the developing forespore and saturate spore DNA exhibited a number of differences from that of the wild-type strain, including delayed forespore accumulation of dipicolinic acid, overexpression of forespore-specific genes, and delayed expression of at least one mother cell-specific gene turned on late in sporulation, although genes turned on earlier in the mother cell were expressed normally in alpha(-) beta(-) strains. The sporulation defects in alpha(-) beta(-) strains were corrected by synthesis of chromosome-saturating levels of either of two wild-type, alpha/beta-type SASP but not by a mutant SASP that binds DNA poorly. Spores from alpha(-) beta(-) strains also exhibited less glutaraldehyde resistance and slower outgrowth than did wild-type spores, but at least some of these defects in alpha(-) beta(-) spores were abolished by the synthesis of normal levels of alpha/beta-type SASP. These results indicate that alpha/beta-type SASP may well have global effects on gene expression during sporulation and spore outgrowth.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Bacillus subtilis / genetics
  • Bacillus subtilis / physiology*
  • Bacterial Proteins / genetics
  • Bacterial Proteins / metabolism*
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / metabolism
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial
  • Picolinic Acids / metabolism
  • Sigma Factor*
  • Spores, Bacterial / genetics
  • Spores, Bacterial / physiology
  • Transcription Factors*

Substances

  • Bacterial Proteins
  • DNA-Binding Proteins
  • Picolinic Acids
  • Sigma Factor
  • Transcription Factors
  • spoIIR protein, Bacillus subtilis
  • spore-specific proteins, Bacillus
  • dipicolinic acid