Control of developmental transcription factor sigma F by sporulation regulatory proteins SpoIIAA and SpoIIAB in Bacillus subtilis.

• DOI: 10.1073/pnas.87.23.9221
• Publication Date: 2006-05-31T11:30:35Z
• Authors: R Schmidt; P Margolis; L Duncan; R Coppolecchia; C P Moran; R Losick
• Keywords: Sigma factor; Sigma; Regulon; Transcription

The sporulation operon spoIIA of Bacillus subtilis consists three cistrons called spoIIAA, spoIIAB, and spoIIAC. Little is known about the function spoIIAA but spoIIAC encodes a sigma factor F, which capable directing transcription in vitro genes that are expressed forespore chamber developing sporangium. We now report products constitute regulatory system SpoIIAA an antagonist SpoIIAB (or otherwise counteracts effect SpoIIAB) is, turn, SpoIIAC (sigma F). This conclusion based on observations (i) overexpression spoIIAB inhibits F-directed gene expression, (ii) mutation stimulates (iii) blocks (iv) relieves block expression caused by spoIIAA. SpoIIAA/SpoIIAB/SpoIIAC could play role controlling timing and/or be responsible for restricting to