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Journal of Bacteriology, January 2002, p. 191-199, Vol. 184, No. 1
0021-9193/01/$04.00+0     DOI: 10.1128/JB.184.1.191-199.2002
Copyright © 2002, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.

The Bacillus subtilis Signaling Protein SpoIVB Defines a New Family of Serine Peptidases

Ngo T. Hoa,1 James A. Brannigan,2 and Simon M. Cutting1*

School of Biological Sciences, Royal Holloway University of London, Egham, Surrey, TW20 0EX,1 Department of Chemistry, University of York, York, Y010 5DD, United Kingdom2

Received 19 July 2001/ Accepted 8 October 2001

The protein SpoIVB plays a key role in signaling in the {varsigma}K checkpoint of Bacillus subtilis. This regulatory mechanism coordinates late gene expression during development in this organism and we have recently shown SpoIVB to be a serine peptidase. SpoIVB signals by transiting a membrane, undergoing self-cleavage, and then by an unknown mechanism activating a zinc metalloprotease, SpoIVFB, which cleaves pro-{varsigma}K to its active form, {varsigma}K, in the outer mother cell chamber of the developing cell. In this work we have characterized the serine peptidase domain of SpoIVB. Alignment of SpoIVB with homologues from other spore formers has allowed site-specific mutagenesis of all potential active site residues within the peptidase domain. We have defined the putative catalytic domain of the SpoIVB serine peptidase as a 160-amino-acid residue segment at the carboxyl terminus of the protein. His236 and Ser378 are the most important residues for proteolysis, with Asp363 being the most probable third member of the catalytic triad. In addition, we have shown that mutations at residues Asn290 and His394 lead to delayed signaling in the {varsigma}K checkpoint. The active site residues suggest that SpoIVB and its homologues from other spore formers are members of a new family of serine peptidases of the trypsin superfamily.

* Corresponding author. Mailing address: School of Biological Sciences, Royal Holloway University of London, Egham, Surrey, TW20 0EX, United Kingdom. Phone: 44-(0)1784-443760. Fax: 44-(0)1784-434326. E-mail: s.cutting{at}rhul.ac.uk.

Journal of Bacteriology, January 2002, p. 191-199, Vol. 184, No. 1
0021-9193/01/$04.00+0     DOI: 10.1128/JB.184.1.191-199.2002
Copyright © 2002, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.



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