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Journal of Bacteriology, October 1999, p. 6171-6175, Vol. 181, No. 19
0021-9193/99/$04.00+0
Copyright © 1999, American Society for Microbiology. All rights reserved.

The "Pro" Sequence of the Sporulation-Specific sigma  Transcription Factor sigma E Directs It to the Mother Cell Side of the Sporulation Septum

Jingliang Ju and W. G. Haldenwang*

Department of Microbiology, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas 78284-7758

Received 26 April 1999/Accepted 6 July 1999

sigma E, a mother cell-specific transcription factor of sporulating Bacillus subtilis, is derived from an inactive precursor protein (pro-sigma E). Activation of sigma E occurs when a sporulation-specific protease (SpoIIGA) cleaves 27 amino acids from the pro-sigma E amino terminus. This reaction is believed to take place at the mother cell-forespore septum. Using a chimera of pro-sigma E and green fluorescent protein (GFP) to visualize the intracellular location of pro-sigma E by fluorescence microscopy, and lysozyme treatment to separate the mother cell and forespore compartments, we determined that the pro-sigma E::GFP signal, localized to the forespore septum prior to lysozyme treatment, is restricted to the mother cell compartment after treatment. Thus, pro-sigma E::GFP had been sequestered to the mother cell side of the septum. This segregation of pro-sigma E::GFP, and presumably pro-sigma E, to the mother cell is likely to be the reason why sigma E activity is restricted to that compartment.

* Corresponding author. Mailing address: Department of Microbiology, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, 7703 Floyd Curl Dr., San Antonio, TX 78284-7758. Phone: (210) 567-3957. Fax: (210) 567-6612. E-mail: Haldenwang{at}UTHSCSA.edu.

Journal of Bacteriology, October 1999, p. 6171-6175, Vol. 181, No. 19
0021-9193/99/$04.00+0
Copyright © 1999, American Society for Microbiology. All rights reserved.


This article has been cited by other articles:

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