Embedding a ribonuclease in the spore crust couples gene expression to spore development in Bacillus subtilis
Abstract
Faced with nutritional stress, some bacteria form endospores capable of enduring extreme conditions for long periods of time; yet the function of many proteins expressed during sporulation remains a mystery. We identify one such protein, KapD, as a 3 -e x oribonuclease e xpressed under control of the mother cell-specific transcription factors SigE and SigK in Bacillus subtilis . KapD dynamically assembles o v er the spore surface through a direct interaction with the major crust protein CotY. KapD catalytic activity is essential for normal adhesiveness of spore surface layers. We identify the sigK mRNA as a k e y KapD substrate and and show that the st abilit y of this transcript is regulated by CotY-mediated sequestration of KapD. SigK is tightly controlled through e x cision of a prophage-lik e element, transcriptional regulation and the remo v al of an inhibitory prosequence. Our findings unco v er a f ourth, post-transcriptional la y er of control of sigK e xpression that couples late-stage gene e xpression in the mother cell to spore morphogenesis.
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Life Sciences [q-bio]| Origin | Files produced by the author(s) |
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