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Journal of Bacteriology, January 2009, p. 100-108, Vol. 191, No. 1
0021-9193/09/$08.00+0     doi:10.1128/JB.01236-08
Copyright © 2009, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.

DegU and Spo0A Jointly Control Transcription of Two Loci Required for Complex Colony Development by Bacillus subtilis{triangledown} ,{dagger}

Daniel T. Verhamme, Ewan J. Murray, and Nicola R. Stanley-Wall*

Division of Molecular and Environmental Microbiology, College of Life Sciences, MSI/WTB/JBC Complex, University of Dundee, Dundee, United Kingdom DD1 5EH

Received 4 September 2008/ Accepted 13 October 2008

Biofilm formation is an example of a multicellular process which depends on cooperative behavior and differentiation within a bacterial population. Our findings indicate that there is a complex feedback loop that maintains the stoichiometry of the extracellular matrix and other proteins required for complex colony development by Bacillus subtilis. Analysis of the transcriptional regulation of two DegU-activated genes that are required for complex colony development by B. subtilis revealed additional involvement of global regulators that are central to controlling biofilm formation. Activation of transcription from both the yvcA and yuaB promoters requires DegU~phosphate, but transcription is inhibited by direct AbrB binding to the promoter regions. Inhibition of transcription by AbrB is relieved when Spo0A~phosphate is generated due to its known role in inhibiting abrB expression. Deletion of SinR, a key coordinator of motility and biofilm formation, enhanced transcription from both loci; however, no evidence of a direct interaction with SinR for either the yvcA or yuaB promoter regions was observed. The enhanced transcription in the sinR mutant background was subsequently demonstrated to be dependent on biosynthesis of the polysaccharide component that forms the major constituent of the B. subtilis biofilm matrix. Together, these findings indicate that a genetic network dependent on activation of both DegU and Spo0A controls complex colony development by B. subtilis.

* Corresponding author. Mailing address: Division of Molecular and Environmental Microbiology, College of Life Sciences, MSI/WTB/JBC Complex, University of Dundee, Dundee, United Kingdom DD1 5EH. Phone: 44(0)1382 386335. Fax: 44(0)1382 386375. E-mail: n.r.stanleywall{at}dundee.ac.uk

{triangledown} Published ahead of print on 31 October 2008.

{dagger} Supplemental material for this article may be found at http://jb.asm.org/.

Journal of Bacteriology, January 2009, p. 100-108, Vol. 191, No. 1
0021-9193/09/$08.00+0     doi:10.1128/JB.01236-08
Copyright © 2009, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.



This article has been cited by other articles:

  • Murray, E. J., Strauch, M. A., Stanley-Wall, N. R. (2009). {sigma}X Is Involved in Controlling Bacillus subtilis Biofilm Architecture through the AbrB Homologue Abh. J. Bacteriol. 191: 6822-6832 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
  • Osera, C., Amati, G., Calvio, C., Galizzi, A. (2009). SwrAA activates poly-{gamma}-glutamate synthesis in addition to swarming in Bacillus subtilis. Microbiology 155: 2282-2287 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
  • Winkelman, J. T., Blair, K. M., Kearns, D. B. (2009). RemA (YlzA) and RemB (YaaB) Regulate Extracellular Matrix Operon Expression and Biofilm Formation in Bacillus subtilis. J. Bacteriol. 191: 3981-3991 [Abstract] [Full Text]  


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