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 Carlson, H. C. Articles by Haldenwang, W. G. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Carlson, H. C. Articles by Haldenwang, W. G.

 Previous Article  |  Next Article 

J. Bacteriol., Jan 1996, 546-549, Vol 178, No. 2
Copyright © 1996, American Society for Microbiology

Exchange of precursor-specific elements between Pro-sigma E and Pro- sigma K of Bacillus subtilis

HC Carlson, S Lu, L Kroos and WG Haldenwang
Department of Microbiology, University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio 78284, USA.

sigma E and sigma K are sporulation-specific sigma factors of Bacillus subtilis that are synthesized as inactive proproteins. Pro-sigma E and pro-sigma K are activated by the removal of 27 and 20 amino acids, respectively, from their amino termini. To explore the properties of the precursor-specific sequences, we exchanged the coding elements for these domains in the sigma E and sigma K structural genes and determined the properties of the resulting chimeric proteins in B. subtilis. The pro-sigma E-sigma K chimera accumulated and was cleaved into active sigma K, while the pro-sigma K-sigma E fusion protein failed to accumulate and is likely unstable in B. subtilis. A fusion of the sigE "pro" sequence to an unrelated protein (bovine rhodanese) also formed a protein that was cleaved by the pro-sigma E processing apparatus. The data suggest that the sigma E pro sequence contains sufficient information for pro-sigma E processing as well as a unique quality needed for sigma E accumulation.

This article has been cited by other articles:

• Imamura, D., Zhou, R., Feig, M., Kroos, L. (2008). Evidence That the Bacillus subtilis SpoIIGA Protein Is a Novel Type of Signal-transducing Aspartic Protease. J. Biol. Chem. 283: 15287-15299 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Chandler, J. R., Dunny, G. M. (2008). Characterization of the Sequence Specificity Determinants Required for Processing and Control of Sex Pheromone by the Intramembrane Protease Eep and the Plasmid-Encoded Protein PrgY. J. Bacteriol. 190: 1172-1183 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Prince, H., Zhou, R., Kroos, L. (2005). Substrate Requirements for Regulated Intramembrane Proteolysis of Bacillus subtilis Pro-{sigma}K. J. Bacteriol. 187: 961-971 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• McBride, S., Haldenwang, W. G. (2004). Sporulation Phenotype of a Bacillus subtilis Mutant Expressing an Unprocessable but Active {sigma}E Transcription Factor. J. Bacteriol. 186: 1999-2005 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Ju, J., Haldenwang, W. G. (2003). Tethering of the Bacillus subtilis {sigma}E Proprotein to the Cell Membrane Is Necessary for Its Processing but Insufficient for Its Stabilization. J. Bacteriol. 185: 5897-5900 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Arcuri, E. F., Wiedmann, M., Boor, K. J. (2000). Phylogeny and functional conservation of {sigma}E in endospore-forming bacteria. Microbiology 146: 1593-1603 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Ju, J., Luo, T., Haldenwang, W. G. (1998). Forespore Expression and Processing of the SigE Transcription Factor in Wild-Type and Mutant Bacillus subtilis. J. Bacteriol. 180: 1673-1681 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Johnson, B. D., Dombroski, A. J. (1997). The Role of the Pro Sequence of Bacillus subtilis sigma K in Controlling Activity in Transcription Initiation. J. Biol. Chem. 272: 31029-31035 [Abstract] [Full Text]