This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Reprints and Permissions Copyright Information Books from ASM Press MicrobeWorld Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Roels, S. Articles by Losick, R. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Roels, S. Articles by Losick, R.

 Previous Article  |  Next Article 

J. Bacteriol., 11 1995, 6263-6275, Vol 177, No. 21
Copyright © 1995, American Society for Microbiology

Adjacent and divergently oriented operons under the control of the sporulation regulatory protein GerE in Bacillus subtilis

S Roels and R Losick
Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138, USA.

The DNA-binding protein GerE is the latest-acting regulatory protein in the mother cell line of gene expression during sporulation in Bacillus subtilis. GerE directs the transcription of several genes that encode structural components of the protein coat that encases the mature spore. We report on the identification and characterization of a cluster of additional genes whose transcription is dependent on GerE. These genes, which are located in the replication terminus region of the chromosome (181 degrees on the genetic map), are arranged in adjacent and divergently oriented operons called cgeAB and cgeCDE, which consist of two and at least three genes, respectively. CgeD, the product of the second member of the cgeCDE operon, is strikingly similar to the product of a B. subtilis gene (ipa-63d) of unknown function and is similar at its amino terminus to certain glycosyl transferases involved in polysaccharide biosynthesis. Strains with mutations in the cgeAB and cgeCDE operons produce spores with altered surface properties, on which basis we propose that proteins encoded by these operons influence maturation of the outermost layer of the spore, perhaps by glycosylation of coat proteins at the spore surface.

This article has been cited by other articles:

• Waller, L. N., Stump, M. J., Fox, K. F., Harley, W. M., Fox, A., Stewart, G. C., Shahgholi, M. (2005). Identification of a Second Collagen-Like Glycoprotein Produced by Bacillus anthracis and Demonstration of Associated Spore-Specific Sugars. J. Bacteriol. 187: 4592-4597 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Steil, L., Serrano, M., Henriques, A. O., Volker, U. (2005). Genome-wide analysis of temporally regulated and compartment-specific gene expression in sporulating cells of Bacillus subtilis. Microbiology 151: 399-420 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Daubenspeck, J. M., Zeng, H., Chen, P., Dong, S., Steichen, C. T., Krishna, N. R., Pritchard, D. G., Turnbough, C. L. Jr. (2004). Novel Oligosaccharide Side Chains of the Collagen-like Region of BclA, the Major Glycoprotein of the Bacillus anthracis Exosporium. J. Biol. Chem. 279: 30945-30953 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Kuwana, R., Ikejiri, H., Yamamura, S., Takamatsu, H., Watabe, K. (2004). Functional relationship between SpoVIF and GerE in gene regulation during sporulation of Bacillus subtilis. Microbiology 150: 163-170 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Knurr, J., Benedek, O., Heslop, J., Vinson, R. B., Boydston, J. A., McAndrew, J., Kearney, J. F., Turnbough, C. L. Jr. (2003). Peptide Ligands That Bind Selectively to Spores of Bacillus subtilis and Closely Related Species. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 69: 6841-6847 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Chada, V. G. R., Sanstad, E. A., Wang, R., Driks, A. (2003). Morphogenesis of Bacillus Spore Surfaces. J. Bacteriol. 185: 6255-6261 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Kakeshita, H., Oguro, A., Amikura, R., Nakamura, K., Yamane, K. (2000). Expression of the ftsY gene, encoding a homologue of the {alpha} subunit of mammalian signal recognition particle receptor, is controlled by different promoters in vegetative and sporulating cells of Bacillus subtilis. Microbiology 146: 2595-2603 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Ichikawa, H., Kroos, L. (2000). Combined Action of Two Transcription Factors Regulates Genes Encoding Spore Coat Proteins of Bacillus subtilis. J. Biol. Chem. 275: 13849-13855 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Wade, K. H., Schyns, G., Opdyke, J. A., Moran, C. P. Jr. (1999). A Region of sigma K Involved in Promoter Activation by GerE in Bacillus subtilis. J. Bacteriol. 181: 4365-4373 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Ichikawa, H., Halberg, R., Kroos, L. (1999). Negative Regulation by the Bacillus subtilis GerE Protein. J. Biol. Chem. 274: 8322-8327 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Driks, A. (1999). Bacillus subtilis Spore Coat. Microbiol. Mol. Biol. Rev. 63: 1-20 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Promadej, N., Fiedler, F., Cossart, P., Dramsi, S., Kathariou, S. (1999). Cell Wall Teichoic Acid Glycosylation in Listeria monocytogenes Serotype 4b Requires gtcA, a Novel, Serogroup-Specific Gene. J. Bacteriol. 181: 418-425 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Bagyan, I., Setlow, B., Setlow, P. (1998). New Small, Acid-Soluble Proteins Unique to Spores of Bacillus subtilis: Identification of the Coding Genes and Regulation and Function of Two of These Genes. J. Bacteriol. 180: 6704-6712 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Kerovuo, J., Lauraeus, M., Nurminen, P., Kalkkinen, N., Apajalahti, J. (1998). Isolation, Characterization, Molecular Gene Cloning, and Sequencing of a Novel Phytase from Bacillus subtilis. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 64: 2079-2085 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Takamatsu, H., Chikahiro, Y., Kodama, T., Koide, H., Kozuka, S., Tochikubo, K., Watabe, K. (1998). A Spore Coat Protein, CotS, of Bacillus subtilis Is Synthesized under the Regulation of sigma K and GerE during Development and Is Located in the Inner Coat Layer of Spores. J. Bacteriol. 180: 2968-2974 [Abstract] [Full Text]