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Microbiology and Molecular Biology Reviews, June 2004, p. 234-262, Vol. 68, No. 2
1092-2172/04/$08.00+0 DOI: 10.1128/MMBR.68.2.234-262.2004
Copyright © 2004, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.
Compartmentalization of Gene Expression during Bacillus subtilis Spore Formation
David W. Hilbert
and
Patrick J. Piggot*
Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Temple University School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19140
Gene expression in members of the family Bacillaceae becomes
compartmentalized after the distinctive, asymmetrically located
sporulation division. It involves complete compartmentalization of the
activities of sporulation-specific sigma factors,
F
in the prespore and then
E in the mother
cell, and then later, following engulfment,
G in
the prespore and then
K in the mother
cell. The coupling of the activation of
F to
septation and
G to engulfment is clear; the
mechanisms are not. The
factors provide the bare framework of
compartment-specific gene expression. Within each
regulon are
several temporal classes of genes, and for key regulators, timing is
critical. There are also complex intercompartmental regulatory signals.
The determinants for
F regulation are assembled
before septation, but activation follows septation. Reversal of the
anti-
F activity of SpoIIAB is critical.
Only the origin-proximal 30% of a chromosome is present in the
prespore when first formed; it takes
15 min for the
rest to be transferred. This transient genetic asymmetry is important
for prespore-specific
F activation.
Activation of
E requires
F
activity and occurs by cleavage of a prosequence. It must occur rapidly
to prevent the formation of a second septum.
G is
formed only in the prespore. SpoIIAB can block
G activity, but SpoIIAB control does not
explain why
G is activated only after engulfment.
There is mother cell-specific excision of an insertion element in
sigK and
E-directed transcription of
sigK, which encodes pro-
K. Activation
requires removal of the prosequence following a
G-directed signal from the
prespore.
* Corresponding author. Mailing address: Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Temple University School of Medicine, 3400 N. Broad St., Philadelphia, PA 19140. Phone: (215) 707-7927. Fax: (215) 707-7788. E-mail:
piggotp{at}temple.edu.
Present address: Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Columbia University, New York, NY 10032.
Microbiology and Molecular Biology Reviews, June 2004, p. 234-262, Vol. 68, No. 2
1092-2172/04/$08.00+0 DOI: 10.1128/MMBR.68.2.234-262.2004
Copyright © 2004, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.
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