Deduced polypeptides encoded by the Bacillus subtilis sacU locus share homology with two-component sensor-regulator systems

SwrA-mediated Multimerization of DegU and an Upstream Activation Sequence Enhance Flagellar Gene Expression in Bacillus subtilis

The earliest genes in bacterial flagellar assembly are activated by narrowly-conserved proteins called master regulators that often act as heteromeric complexes. A complex of SwrA and the response-regulator transcription factor DegU is thought to form the master flagellar regulator in Bacillus subtilis but how the two proteins co-operate to activate gene expression is poorly-understood. Here we find using ChIP-Seq that SwrA interacts with a subset of DegU binding sites in the chromosome and does so in a DegU-dependent manner. Using this information, we identify a DegU-specific inverted repeat DNA sequence in the Pflache promoter region and show that SwrA synergizes with DegU phosphorylation to increase binding affinity. We further demonstrate that the SwrA/DegU footprint extends from the DegU binding site towards the promoter, likely through SwrA-induced DegU multimerization. The location of the DegU inverted repeat was critical and moving the binding site closer to the promoter impaired transcription by disrupting a previously-unrecognized upstream activation sequence (UAS). Thus, the SwrA-DegU heteromeric complex likely enables both remote binding and interaction between the activator and RNA polymerase. Small co-activator proteins like SwrA may allow selective activation of subsets of genes where activator multimerization is needed. Why some promoters require activator multimerization and some require UAS sequences is unknown.

SwrA extends DegU over an UP element to activate flagellar gene expression in Bacillus subtilis

SwrA activates flagellar gene expression in Bacillus subtilis to increase the frequency of motile cells in liquid and elevate flagellar density to enable swarming over solid surfaces. Here we use ChIP-seq to show that SwrA interacts with many sites on the chromosome in a manner that depends on the response regulator DegU. We identify a DegU-specific inverted repeat DNA sequence and show that SwrA synergizes with phosphorylation to increase DegU DNA binding affinity. We further show that SwrA increases the size of the DegU footprint expanding the region bound by DegU towards the promoter. The location of the DegU inverted repeat was critical and moving the binding site closer to the promoter impaired transcription more that could be explained by deactivation. We conclude that SwrA/DegU forms a heteromeric complex that enables both remote binding and interaction between the activator and RNA polymerase in the context of an interceding UP element. We speculate that multimeric activators that resolve cis-element spatial conflicts are common in bacteria and likely act on flagellar biosynthesis loci and other long operons of other multi-subunit complexes.

IMPORTANCE

In Bacteria, the sigma subunit of RNA polymerase recognizes specific DNA sequences called promoters that determine where gene transcription begins. Some promoters also have sequences immediately upstream called an UP element that is bound by the alpha subunit of RNA polymerase and is often necessary for transcription. Finally, promoters may be activated by transcription factors that bind DNA specific sequences and help recruit RNA polymerase to weak promoter elements. Here we show that the promoter for the 32 gene long flagellar operon in Bacillus subtilis requires an UP element and is activated by a heteromeric transcription factor of DegU and SwrA. Our evidence suggests that SwrA oligomerizes DegU over the DNA to allow RNA polymerase to interact with DegU and the UP element simultaneously. Heteromeric activator complexes are known but poorly-understood in bacteria and we speculate they may be needed to resolve spatial conflicts in the DNA sequence.

An alternate route to phosphorylating DegU of Bacillus subtilis using acetyl phosphate

Background

Two-component signal transduction pathways allow bacteria to sense and respond to the environment. Typically such pathways comprise a sensor histidine kinase and a response regulator. Phosphorylation of the response regulator commonly results in its activation, allowing the protein to bind to target promoter elements to regulate transcription. Several mechanisms are used to prevent inappropriate phosphorylation of the response regulator, thereby ensuring a specific response. In Bacillus subtilis, the DegS-DegU two-component system controls transcription of target genes in a manner dependent on the level of the phosphorylated response regulator, DegU. Previous work has tentatively indicated that DegU, and DegU H¹²L, a DegU variant which displays enhanced stability of the phosphoryl moiety, can be phosphorylated in the absence of the kinase, DegS.

Results

The data presented here reveal that DegU H¹²L requires aspartic acid 56 (D⁵⁶), the identified DegU phosphorylation site, for its activity. By indirectly measuring the level of DegU ~ P in the cell by assessment of several well recognised DegU regulated processes it was shown that DegU H¹²L retains its activity in the absence of DegS, and that mutation of D⁵⁶ produced an inactive protein. Further experiments designed to raise the level of acetyl phosphate within the cell suggest that DegU can be phosphorylated by acetyl phosphate in the absence of degS. Additionally, the phenotypic and biochemical experiments presented indicate that DegU H¹²L can reliably mimic high levels of phosphorylated DegU.

Conclusions

The ability of acetyl phosphate to modify DegU, and indeed DegU H¹²L, reveal an additional layer of regulation for DegU phosphorylation that will be relevant when the level of DegS is low or in the absence of degS. Given the number of processes that DegU can activate or inhibit, extensive regulation at a number of levels is required to ensure that the system is not inappropriately stimulated. DegS has both kinase and phosphatase activity and our findings demonstrate that the phosphatase activity of DegS is essential to control the level of DegU phosphate. Overall we contribute to our understanding of how the intricate signalling pathway DegS-DegU is regulated in B. subtilis.

The Pta-AckA pathway controlling acetyl phosphate levels and the phosphorylation state of the DegU orphan response regulator both play a role in regulating Listeria monocytogenes motility and chemotaxis

DegU is considered to be an orphan response regulator in Listeria monocytogenes since the gene encoding the cognate histidine kinase DegS is absent from the genome. We have previously shown that DegU is involved in motility, chemotaxis and biofilm formation and contributes to L. monocytogenes virulence. Here, we have investigated the role of DegU phosphorylation in Listeria and shown that DegS of Bacillus subtilis can phosphorylate DegU of L. monocytogenes in vitro. We introduced the B. subtilis degS gene into L. monocytogenes, and showed that this leads to highly increased expression of motility and chemotaxis genes, in a DegU-dependent fashion. We inactivated the predicted phosphorylation site of DegU by replacing aspartate residue 55 with asparagine and showed that this modified protein (DegU(D55N)) is no longer phosphorylated by DegS in vitro. We show that although the unphosphorylated form of DegU retains much of its activity in vivo, expression of motility and chemotaxis genes is lowered in the degU(D55N) mutant. We also show that the small-molecular-weight metabolite acetyl phosphate is an efficient phosphodonor for DegU in vitro and our evidence suggests this is also true in vivo. Indeed, a L. monocytogenesDeltaptaDeltaackA mutant that can no longer synthesize acetyl phosphate was found to be strongly affected in chemotaxis and motility gene expression and biofilm formation. Our findings suggest that phosphorylation by acetyl phosphate could play an important role in modulating DegU activity in vivo, linking its phosphorylation state to the metabolic status of L. monocytogenes.

Pushing the envelope: extracytoplasmic stress responses in bacterial pathogens

Despite being nutrient rich, the tissues and fluids of vertebrates are hostile to microorganisms, and most bacteria that attempt to take advantage of this environment are rapidly eliminated by host defences. Pathogens have evolved various means to promote their survival in host tissues, including stress responses that enable bacteria to sense and adapt to adverse conditions. Many different stress responses have been described, some of which are responsive to one or a small number of cues, whereas others are activated by a broad range of insults. The surface layers of pathogenic bacteria directly interface with the host and can bear the brunt of the attack by the host armoury. Several stress systems that respond to perturbations in the microbial cell outside of the cytoplasm have been described and are known collectively as extracytoplasmic or envelope stress responses (ESRs). Here, we review the role of the ESRs in the pathogenesis of Gram-negative bacterial pathogens.

Aminoglycoside resistance by ArmA-mediated ribosomal 16S methylation in human bacterial pathogens

Aminoglycosides are a medically important class of antibiotics used to treat serious infections. Methylation of the ribosomal target is an emerging mechanism that produces a high level of resistance to all clinically available aminoglycosides for systemic therapy except streptomycin. ArmA was the first methyltransferase using this mechanism to be discovered in a clinical isolate. We demonstrate that ArmA methylates the N7 position of nucleotide G1405 in 16S rRNA. Methylation at this position is presumed to mediate cellular resistance by blocking aminoglycoside binding by ribosomes. To test this hypothesis, we measured the binding of gentamicin by 30S subunits. Under our conditions, we did not observe binding by ribosomes methylated by ArmA. Furthermore, the ArmA methylation reaction is specific for the 30S ribosomal subunit; neither 16S rRNA alone nor the 70S ribosome is a substrate for this reaction under our experimental conditions, implicating ribosomal proteins in substrate recognition. The biochemical characteristics of ArmA place it in the Agr family of methyltransferases, whose members are predominantly anti-suicide genes from Actinomycetes aminoglycoside producers. The discrepancy between the 30% GC content of armA and the >60% GC content of Actinomycetes, however, calls into question the origin of armA. We demonstrate that surprisingly, the natural promoter of armA from gram-negative Klebsiella pneumoniae was active in gram-positive Bacillus subtilis, suggesting that armA originated from a low-GC, gram-positive aminoglycoside-producing organism.

The bacterial condensin/cohesin-like protein complex acts in DNA repair and regulation of gene expression

Structural maintenance of chromosome (SMC) and the SMC-interacting kleisin protein families have key functions in the chromosome organization of most organisms. Here, we report that the Bacillus subtilis kleisin, ScpA, can form a ternary complex with the SMC and ScpB proteins in a yeast tri-hybrid assay, supporting the notion of a bacterial cohesin/condensin-like complex. Furthermore, ScpA interacts in two-hybrid assays with the AddAB complex, essential for recombinational repair, with DegS, a two-component sensor kinase, as well as with other potential transcription regulators. Point mutations in scpA allowing growth under conditions not permissive for the spcA null and not affecting chromosome condensation were isolated. Among these mutations, some affected DNA repair and gene regulation, thus separating ScpA functions in these two pathways from its functions in chromosome condensation and segregation. Some separation-of-function mutations in scpA caused a deficiency in the repair of mitomycin C DNA lesions that was suppressed by increasing the intracellular dosage of the interacting AddAB complex. Another mutation in scpA deregulated the expression of genes encoding degradative enzymes that are known to be controlled by the interacting DegS kinase. We propose that the SMC-ScpA-ScpB complex could: (i) recruit the AddAB helicase/nuclease to act in post-replicative repair; and (ii) form a complex with the DegS sensor kinase that inhibits its kinase activity. Moreover, our results indicate that the role of cohesin and condensin complexes in DNA repair and gene regulation is evolutionary conserved.

A proteomic view of cell physiology of Bacillus subtilis--bringing the genome sequence to life

The genome sequence is the "blue-print of life", and the proteomic approach brings this genome sequence to life. Simple model systems are urgently required to "train" this transformation of the genome sequence into life: why not Bacillus subtilis, the model organism for gram-positive bacteria and of functional genomics? By combination of the highly sensitive 2D protein gel electrophoresis with the identification of the protein spots by microsequencing or mass spectrometry we established a 2D protein index of Bacillus subtilis. In order to depict the entire proteome of a B. subtilis cell, alkaline, cell-wall associated, or extracellular proteins were also included. The proteins of this database (see http://microbio2.biologie.uni-greifswald.de:8880/sub2d.htm) were allocated to proteins with house-keeping functions typical of growing cells and to proteins synthesized particularly in non-growing cells. A computer-aided evaluation of the 2D gels loaded with radioactively-labeled proteins from growing or stressed/starved cells proved to be a powerful tool for the analysis of global regulation of the expression of the entire genome. This is shown for the analysis of glycolysis/TCA cycle (house keeping proteins) and for the analysis of the heat stress stimulon. For the heat stress stimulon it is demonstrated how the proteomic approach can be used: (i) to define the structure of a stimulon, (ii) to dissect stimulons into regulons, (iii) to analyze the regulation, structure, and function of unknown regulons, (iv) to define overlapping reguIons or modulons, and finally (v) to explore complex adaptational networks. Furthermore, it will be demonstrated how the "dual channel pattern comparison" or "proteomics signature" (R. VanBogelen) can be used for a comprehensive understanding or prediction of the physiological state of growing or starving cell populations. This is shown for glucose-starved cells. In order to describe the structure and function of gene regulation groups it is generally recommended to complement the proteomics approach with DNA array technologies. Further studies will focus on the analysis of the global regulation of gene expression by the proteomic approach that cannot be addressed by the application of DNA array techniques: the phosphoproteome and its implications in signal transduction; the global control of protein stability; protein targeting and protein secretion.

Genes controlled by the essential YycG/YycF two-component system of Bacillus subtilis revealed through a novel hybrid regulator approach

The YycG/YycF two-component system, originally identified in Bacillus subtilis, is very highly conserved and appears to be specific to low G + C Gram-positive bacteria. This system is required for cell viability, although the basis for this and the nature of the YycF regulon remained elusive. Using a combined hybrid regulator/transcriptome approach involving the inducible expression of a PhoP'-'YycF chimerical protein in B. subtilis, we have shown that expression of yocH, which encodes a potential autolysin, is specifically activated by YycF. Gel mobility shift and DNase I footprinting assays were used to show direct binding in vitro of purified YycF to the regulatory regions of yocH as well as ftsAZ, previously reported to be controlled by YycF. Nucleotide sequence analysis and site-directed mutagenesis allowed us to define a potential consensus recognition sequence for the YycF response regulator, composed of two direct repeats: 5'-TGT A/T A A/T/C-N5-TGT A/T A A/T/C-3'. A DNA-motif analysis indicates that there are potentially up to 10 genes within the B. subtilis YycG/YycF regulon, mainly involved in cell wall metabolism and membrane protein synthesis. Among these, YycF was shown to bind directly to the region upstream from the ykvT gene, encoding a potential cell wall hydrolase, and the intergenic region of the tagAB/tagDEF divergon, encoding essential components of teichoic acid biosynthesis. Definition of a potential YycF recognition sequence allowed us to identify likely members of the YycF regulon in other low G + C Gram-positive bacteria, including several pathogens such as Listeria monocytogenes, Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus pneumoniae.

A proteomic view on genome-based signal peptide predictions

The availability of complete genome sequences has allowed the prediction of all exported proteins of the corresponding organisms with dedicated algorithms. Even though numerous studies report on genome-based predictions of signal peptides and cell retention signals, they lack a proteomic verification. For example, 180 secretory and 114 lipoprotein signal peptides were predicted recently for the Gram-positive eubacterium Bacillus subtilis. In the present studies, proteomic approaches were used to define the extracellular complement of the B. subtilis secretome. Using different growth conditions and a hyper-secreting mutant, approximately 200 extracellular proteins were visualized by two-dimensional (2D) gel electrophoresis, of which 82 were identified by mass spectrometry. These include 41 proteins that have a potential signal peptide with a type I signal peptidase (SPase) cleavage site, and lack a retention signal. Strikingly, the remaining 41 proteins were predicted previously to be cell associated because of the apparent absence of a signal peptide (22), or the presence of specific cell retention signals in addition to an export signal (19). To test the importance of the five type I SPases and the unique lipoprotein-specific SPase of B. subtilis, the extracellular proteome of (multiple) SPase mutants was analyzed. Surprisingly, only the processing of the polytopic membrane protein YfnI was strongly inhibited in Spase I mutants, showing for the first time that a native eubacterial membrane protein is a genuine Spase I substrate. Furthermore, a mutation affecting lipoprotein modification and processing resulted in the shedding of at least 23 (lipo-)proteins into the medium. In conclusion, our observations show that genome-based predictions reflect the actual composition of the extracellular proteome for approximately 50%. Major problems are currently encountered with the prediction of extracellular proteins lacking signal peptides (including cytoplasmic proteins) and lipoproteins.

Involvement of stringent factor RelA in expression of the alkaline protease gene aprE in Bacillus subtilis

Expression of Bacillus subtilis aprE, encoding an extracellular alkaline protease, is positively regulated by phosphorylated DegU, the regulator of a two-component regulatory system, DegS-DegU. We found that the expression of an aprE'-'lacZ fusion was greatly reduced in a disruption mutant with a mutation of relA, which encodes the stringent factor RelA. The level of DegU in the relA mutant was similar to that in the wild-type cell. A relA degU double mutation did not result in a further decrease of the aprE'-'lacZ level found in a degU single mutant. The expression of the aprE'-'lacZ fusion in the relA mutant was stimulated by multicopy degR or the degU32(Hy) and degS200(Hy) mutations that cause the stabilization of phosphorylated DegU. Furthermore, the expression of sacB'-'lacZ, which is also dependent on phosphorylated DegU, was stimulated by the relA mutation, and this stimulation was not seen in the relA degU double mutant. These results show that RelA (or its product guanosine-3',5'-bisdiphosphate [pp Gpp]) does not affect the phosphorylation of DegU and suggest that it participates in the expression of aprE and sacB through the regulation of DegU-dependent transcription.

Regulation of hrp genes and type III protein secretion in Erwinia amylovora by HrpX/HrpY, a novel two-component system, and HrpS

Two novel regulatory components, hrpX and hrpY, of the hrp system of Erwinia amylovora were identified. The hrpXY operon is expressed in rich media, but its transcription is increased threefold by low pH, nutrient, and temperature levels--conditions that mimic the plant apoplast. hrpXY is autoregulated and directs the expression of hrpL; hrpL, in turn, activates transcription of other loci in the hrp gene cluster (Z.-M. Wei and S. V. Beer, J. Bacteriol. 177:6201-6210, 1995). The deduced amino -acid sequences of hrpX and hrpY are similar to bacterial two-component regulators including VsrA/VsrD of Pseudomonas (Ralstonia) solanacearum, DegS/DegU of Bacillus subtilis, and UhpB/UhpA and NarX/NarP, NarL of Escherichia coli. The N-terminal signal-input domain of HrpX contains PAS domain repeats. hrpS, located downstream of hrpXY, encodes a protein with homology to WtsA (HrpS) of Erwinia (Pantoea) stewartii, HrpR and HrpS of Pseudomonas syringae, and other delta54-dependent, enhancer-binding proteins. Transcription of hrpS also is induced under conditions that mimic the plant apoplast. However, hrpS is not autoregulated, and its expression is not affected by hrpXY. When hrpS or hrpL were provided on multicopy plasmids, both hrpX and hrpY mutants recovered the ability to elicit the hypersensitive reaction in tobacco. This confirms that hrpS and hrpL are not epistatic to hrpXY. A model of the regulatory cascades leading to the induction of the E. amylovora type III system is proposed.

The pleiotropic response regulator DegU functions as a priming protein in competence development in Bacillus subtilis

The response regulator DegU is involved in various late-growth developmental processes in Bacillus subtilis, including the production of degradative enzymes and the development of genetic competence. DegU is essential for the expression of the competence transcription factor, encoded by comK. ComK is required for the transcription of genes encoding the DNA uptake and integration machinery, as well as for the transcription of its own gene. We have purified DegU to study its role in the expression of comK, and we demonstrate here that DegU binds specifically to the comK promoter. The binding of the response regulator DegU to a promoter target had not been reported previously. DNase I protection analyses show that the DegU binding site overlaps with the ComK binding site, and gel retardation experiments indicate that DegU strongly stimulates the binding of ComK to the comK promoter. We propose that DegU functions at the initiation of competence development, when ComK concentrations are insufficient to support comK transcription, by facilitating ComK binding to the comK promoter. DegU therefore acts as a priming protein that primes the autostimulatory transcription of comK. Such priming activity adds a function to the class of response regulator proteins.

Cloning of a two-component regulatory system probably involved in the regulation of chitinase in Streptomyces coelicolor A3(2)

Using the method for the identification of promoters recognized by the sporulation specific sigma factor (sigma F), we identified a positive 950 bp Sau3AI DNA fragment in Streptomyces coelicolor A3(2). High-resolution S1-nuclease mapping identified a potential promoter, PF35, in the E. coli two-plasmid system similar to the consensus sequence of Bacillus subtilis promoters recognized by the general stress-response sigma factor (sigma B). However, the putative sigF-dependent promoter, PF35, was inactive in S. coelicolor in the course of differentiation, and it was located divergently in the promoter region directing expression of the chiC gene encoding chitinase. Sequence analysis of the region potentially governed by PF35 revealed two translationally coupled genes encoding proteins similar to bacterial two-component regulatory systems, and with the highest similarity to the two-component system chiS, chiR, regulating chitinase activity in Streptomyces thermoviolaceus. However, the genes had a divergent orientation with respect to the PF35 promoter. Disruption of the S. coelicolor chiR gene appeared to have no obvious effect on growth, morphology, differentiation, and production of pigmented antibiotic actinorhodin and undecylprodigiosin. Moreover, the chiR disruption did not affect the overall chitinase activity.

Synthesis of chitinase in Streptomyces thermoviolaceus is regulated by a two-component sensor-regulator system

The chiS and chiR genes located upstream of the chitinase locus (chi40) on the chromosome of Streptomyces thermoviolaceus OPC-520 were cloned and sequenced. The deduced amino acid sequences revealed that ChiS (390 amino acids, 40.9 kDa) and ChiR (213 amino acids, 22 kDa) show significant sequence similarities to histidine kinases and response regulators, respectively, of typical prokaryotic two-component regulatory systems. The extracellular chitinase activity of Streptomyces lividans 66 (pTSR2 (bearing chiS, chiR and chi40)) was significantly enhanced by a high dosage of the chiS and chiR genes.

The histidine protein kinase superfamily

Signal transduction in microorganisms and plants is often mediated by His-Asp phosphorelay systems. Two conserved families of proteins are centrally involved: histidine protein kinases and phospho-aspartyl response regulators. The kinases generally function in association with sensory elements that regulate their activities in response to environmental signals. A sequence analysis with 348 histidine kinase domains reveals that this family consists of distinct subgroups. A comparative sequence analysis with 298 available receiver domain sequences of cognate response regulators demonstrates a significant correlation between kinase and regulator subfamilies. These findings suggest that different subclasses of His-Asp phosphorelay systems have evolved independently of one another.

A novel Bacillus subtilis gene, antE, temporally regulated and convergent to and overlapping dnaE

A Bacillus subtilis promoter, Px, that functions in a convergent manner with the sigA operon promoter P3 has been found in the sigA operon. Promoter Px is turned on at the same time as promoter P3 during early sporulation. The transcript from promoter Px codes for a small protein with partial homology to the OmpR protein from Escherichia coli and also carries an untranslated sequence at its 3' end that is complementary to the 5' end of the P3 transcript, which codes for the ribosome binding site of dnaE. The gene controlled by Px has been called antE. The expression of antE does not require sigmaB, sigmaE, or sigmaH. Px was transcribed in vitro by the sigmaA holoenzyme and is the seventh promoter to be recognized in the sigmaA operon. A possible role for the antE gene during early sporulation is proposed.

prhJ and hrpG, two new components of the plant signal-dependent regulatory cascade controlled by PrhA in Ralstonia solanacearum

hrp gene expression in the phytopathogenic bacterium Ralstonia solanacearum GMI1000 is induced through the HrpB regulator in minimal medium and upon co-culture with plant cell suspensions. The putative outer membrane protein PrhA is specifically involved in hrp gene activation in the presence of plant cells and has been proposed to be a receptor of a plant-dependent signal transduction pathway. Here, we report on the identification of two regulatory genes, hrpG and prhJ, located at the right-hand end of the hrp gene cluster, that are required for full pathogenicity. HrpG belongs to the OmpR subclass of two-component response regulators and is homologous to HrpG, the activator of hrp genes in Xanthomonas campestris pv. vesicatoria. PrhJ is a novel hrp regulatory protein, sharing homology with the LuxR/UhpA family of transcriptional activators. As for HrpG of X. c. pv. vesicatoria, HrpG is required for hrp gene expression in minimal medium, but, in addition, we show that it also controls hrpB gene activation upon co-culture with Arabidopsis thaliana and tomato cell suspensions. In contrast, PrhJ is specifically involved in hrp gene expression in the presence of plant cells. hrpG and prhJ gene transcription is plant cell inducible through the PrhA-dependent pathway. From these results, we propose a regulatory cascade in which plant cell signal(s) sensed by PrhA are transduced to the prhJ gene, whose predicted product controls hrpG gene expression. HrpG then activates the hrpB regulatory gene, and, subsequently, the remaining hrp transcriptional units in all known inducing conditions.

SdeK is required for early fruiting body development in Myxococcus xanthus

Myxococcus xanthus cells carrying the Omega4408 Tn5lac insertion at the sde locus show defects in fruiting body development and sporulation. Our analysis of sde expression patterns showed that this locus is induced early in the developmental program (0 to 2 h) and that expression increases approximately fivefold after 12 h of development. Further studies showed that expression of sde is induced as growing cells enter stationary phase, suggesting that activation of the sde locus is not limited to the developmental process. Because the peak levels of sde expression in both an sde+ and an sde mutant background were similar, we conclude that the sde locus is not autoregulated. Characterization of the sde locus by DNA sequence analysis indicated that the Omega4408 insertion occurred within the sdeK gene. Primer extension analyses localized the 5' end of sde transcript to a guanine nucleotide 307 bp upstream of the proposed start for the SdeK coding sequence. The DNA sequence in the -12 and -24 regions upstream of the sde transcriptional start site shows similarity to the sigma54 family of promoters. The results of complementation studies suggest that the defects in development and sporulation caused by the Omega4408 insertion are due to an inactivation of sdeK. The predicted amino acid sequence of SdeK was found to have similarity to the sequences of the histidine protein kinases of two-component regulatory systems. Based on our results, we propose that SdeK may be part of a signal transduction pathway required for the activation and propagation of the early developmental program.

ClpP of Bacillus subtilis is required for competence development, motility, degradative enzyme synthesis, growth at high temperature and sporulation

The nucleotide sequence of the Bacillus subtilis clpP gene was determined. The predicted protein shows very high similarity to members of the ClpP family of proteolytic subunits (68% amino acid sequence identity with that of Escherichia coli). We show that ClpP plays an essential role in stationary phase adaptive responses. Indeed, a delta clpP mutant was constructed and shown to display a pleiotropic phenotype, including a deficiency in both sporulation initiation and competence for DNA uptake. The delta clpP mutant has a highly filamentous morphology and appears to be non-motile, as judged by swarm plate assays. Expression of clpP is strongly induced under heat shock conditions, and ClpP is shown to be essential for growth of B. subtilis at high temperature. The role of ClpP in the sporulation and competence regulatory pathways was investigated. ClpP is required for expression of the spollA and spollG operons, encoding the sigmaF and sigmaE sporulation-specific sigma factors. ClpP is also necessary for the expression of the comK gene, encoding a positive transcriptional regulator of competence genes. ComK-dependent transcription of sacB, encoding the exocellular degradative enzyme levansucrase, was found to be abolished in the delta clpP mutant. MecA has been characterized previously as a negative regulator of comK expression, whose overproduction inhibits both sporulation and competence development. Expression of a mecA'-'lacZ translational fusion is shown to be increased in the delta clpP mutant. We suggest that ClpP is involved in controlling MecA levels in the cell through proteolysis. Increased levels of MecA in the absence of ClpP are at least partly responsible for the observed pleiotropic phenotype of the delta clpP mutant.

The rpoN (sigma54) gene from Listeria monocytogenes is involved in resistance to mesentericin Y105, an antibacterial peptide from Leuconostoc mesenteroides

To gain insight into the mode of action of mesentericin Y105, a bacteriocin bactericidal agent against Listeria monocytogenes, we undertook to identify the listerial factors mediating this susceptibility by using a genetic approach. Transposon mutants resistant to the bacteriocin were obtained. One of them corresponded to a transposon insertion in a gene (rpoN) encoding a putative protein (447 amino acids) with strong homologies to alternative transcriptional sigma54 factors, including that of Bacillus subtilis (38% identity). Complementation experiments with the wild-type rpoN gene demonstrated that the insertion in rpoN was responsible for the resistance phenotype in L. monocytogenes. Moreover, expression of the L. monocytogenes rpoN gene in an rpoN mutant strain of B. subtilis promoted transcription of a sigma54-dependent operon in the presence of the associated regulator. These results demonstrate that the L. monocytogenes rpoN gene encodes a new sigma54 factor.

Structure and regulation of expression of the Bacillus subtilis valyl-tRNA synthetase gene

We have sequenced the valyl-tRNA synthetase gene (valS) of Bacillus subtilis and found an open reading frame coding for a protein of 880 amino acids with a molar mass of 101,749. The predicted amino acid sequence shares strong similarity with the valyl-tRNA synthetases from Bacillus stearothermophilus, Lactobacillus casei, and Escherichia coli. Extracts of B. subtilis strains overexpressing the valS gene on a plasmid have increased valyl-tRNA aminoacylation activity. Northern analysis shows that valS is cotranscribed with the folC gene (encoding folyl-polyglutamate synthetase) lying downstream. The 300-bp 5' noncoding region of the gene contains the characteristic regulatory elements, T box, "specifier codon" (GUC), and rho-independant transcription terminator of a gene family in gram-positive bacteria that encodes many aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases and some amino acid biosynthetic enzymes and that is regulated by tRNA-mediated antitermination. We have shown that valS expression is induced by valine limitation and that the specificity of induction can be switched to threonine by changing the GUC (Val) specifier triplet to ACC (Thr). Overexpression of valS from a recombinant plasmid leads to autorepression of a valS-lacZ transcriptional fusion. Like induction by valine starvation, autoregulation of valS depends on the presence of the GUC specifier codon. Disruption of the valS gene was not lethal, suggesting the existence of a second gene, as is the case for both the thrS and the tyrS genes.

The Bacillus subtilis chromosome region near 78 degrees contains the genes encoding a new two-component system, three ABC transporters and a lipase

The nucleotide sequence of a 9444-bp segment around the 78 degrees region of the Bacillus subtilis (Bs) chromosome has been determined. Nine putative orfs were identified. The deduced amino acid sequences of the products of two of them (yfiJ and yfiK) exhibit high similarity to those of a sensor protein, DegS, and a transcriptional regulatory protein, DegU, of Bs, respectively. Three of them (yfiL, yfiM and yfiN) seem to be ABC transporter genes. One orf (designated as lipB), the closest to the sspE among the nine orfs, is the second lipase gene in Bs.

A functional Spo0A is required for maximal aprE expression in Bacillus subtilis

The initiation of sporulation in Bacillus subtilis is under control of the transcriptional factor Spo0A. Most Spo0A mutants fail to initiate the sporulation process and all the sporulation initiated processes such as the synthesis of subtilisin. However, the product of spo0A9V, one of the several spo0A mutants characterized, distinguishes itself in the fact that, while it appears to effectively repress abrB, it fails to activate the spoIIA operon. The aim of this study was to examine the effect of the spo0A9V mutation on aprE expression and we found that in different genetic backgrounds, the spo0A9V mutation has a negative effect on aprE::lacZ expression.

Identification and molecular characterization of a putative regulatory locus that affects autolysis in Staphylococcus aureus

Previously in our laboratory, a PCR-based strategy was used to isolate potential sensor gene fragments from the Staphyloccus aureus genome. One DNA fragment was isolated that shared strong sequence similarity to genes encoding bacterial sensor proteins, indicating that it originated from within a potential staphylococcal sensor protein gene. In this study, the DNA surrounding the PCR product origin was cloned and sequenced. This analysis revealed the presence of two genes, termed lytS and lytR, whose deduced amino acid sequences were similar to those of members of the two-component regulatory system family of proteins. S. aureus cells containing an insertional disruption of lytS exhibited a marked propensity to form aggregates in liquid culture, suggesting that alterations in cell surface components exist in this strain. Transmission electron microscopic examination of these cells revealed that the cell surface was rough and diffuse and that a large proportion of the cell population had lysed. The lytS mutant also exhibited increased autolysis and an altered level of murein hydrolase activity produced compared with the parental strain, NCTC 8325-4. These data suggest that the lytS and lytR gene products control the rate of autolysis in S. aureus by affecting the intrinsic murein hydrolase activity associated with the cell.

The major role of Spo0A in genetic competence is to downregulate abrB, an essential competence gene

We show that the major role for Spo0A in the development of genetic competence is to downregulate expression of abrB. AbrB is both a negative regulator and a positive regulator of competence. The negative effects are exerted at multiple points in competence regulation. A regulatory mechanism that is independent of mecA and abrB operates on comK expression.

Cloning and sequencing the degS-degU operon from an alkalophilic Bacillus brevis

The sacU region from an alkalophilic Bacillus brevis was cloned and sequenced. The two open reading frames of the degS-degU operon encode polypeptides that gave calculated molecular masses of 43.8 kDa and 27.0 kDa, respectively. Sequence comparisons at the amino acid level to the B. subtilis degS-degU genes showed 74% and 84% similarity, respectively. On a multicopy vector the B. brevis degS-degU genes were found to cause hypersecretion of several extracellular enzymes in a B. subtilis rec- strain as well as in a B. subtilis sacU(HY) strain.

Genetic regulation of nitrogen fixation in rhizobia

This review presents a comparison between the complex genetic regulatory networks that control nitrogen fixation in three representative rhizobial species, Rhizobium meliloti, Bradyrhizobium japonicum, and Azorhizobium caulinodans. Transcription of nitrogen fixation genes (nif and fix genes) in these bacteria is induced primarily by low-oxygen conditions. Low-oxygen sensing and transmission of this signal to the level of nif and fix gene expression involve at least five regulatory proteins, FixL, FixJ, FixK, NifA, and RpoN (sigma 54). The characteristic features of these proteins and their functions within species-specific regulatory pathways are described. Oxygen interferes with the activities of two transcriptional activators, FixJ and NifA. FixJ activity is modulated via phosphorylation-dephosphorylation by the cognate sensor hemoprotein FixL. In addition to the oxygen responsiveness of the NifA protein, synthesis of NifA is oxygen regulated at the level of transcription. This type of control includes FixLJ in R. meliloti and FixLJ-FixK in A. caulinodans or is brought about by autoregulation in B. japonicum. NifA, in concert with sigma 54 RNA polymerase, activates transcription from -24/-12-type promoters associated with nif and fix genes and additional genes that are not directly involved in nitrogen fixation. The FixK proteins constitute a subgroup of the Crp-Fnr family of bacterial regulators. Although the involvement of FixLJ and FixK in nifA regulation is remarkably different in the three rhizobial species discussed here, they constitute a regulatory cascade that uniformly controls the expression of genes (fixNOQP) encoding a distinct cytochrome oxidase complex probably required for bacterial respiration under low-oxygen conditions. In B. japonicum, the FixLJ-FixK cascade also controls genes for nitrate respiration and for one of two sigma 54 proteins.

comK acts as an autoregulatory control switch in the signal transduction route to competence in Bacillus subtilis

The comK gene is a regulatory transcription unit which is essential for the development of genetic competence in Bacillus subtilis. The transcription of comK is under strict nutritional and growth phase-dependent control and has been shown to depend on the gene products of comA and srfA. In this report, we show that expression of comK is dependent on its own gene product as well as on the gene products of all other tested regulatory genes known to be involved in competence development (abrB, comA, comP, degU, sin, spo0A, spo0H, spo0K, and srfA). A mecA mutation is able to suppress the competence deficiency of mutations in any of these regulatory loci except for mutations in spo0A and, as we show here, in comK. Furthermore, we show that the presence of comK on a multiple copy plasmid leads to derepression of comK expression, causing an almost constitutive expression of competence in minimal medium as well as permitting competence development in complex medium. We infer from these results that the signals which trigger competence development, after having been received and processed by the various components of the competence signal transduction pathway, all converge at the level of comK expression. As soon as derepression of comK expression occurs, the positive autoregulation rapidly results in accumulation of the comK gene product, which subsequently induces competence.

Effect of degS-degU mutations on the expression of sigD, encoding an alternative sigma factor, and autolysin operon of Bacillus subtilis

Primer extension analysis of transcripts of the Bacillus subtilis autolysin (cwlB) operon indicated that SigD-dependent transcripts from the Pd promoter are missing in the degU32(Hy) and degS200 (Hy) mutants. The degU32(Hy) mutation caused a 99% reduction in the expression of a sigD-lacZ translational fusion gene constructed in the B. subtilis chromosome. The phosphorylated form of the DegU protein seems to be a regulator for expression of the sigD gene.

MecB of Bacillus subtilis, a member of the ClpC ATPase family, is a pleiotropic regulator controlling competence gene expression and growth at high temperature

The Bacillus subtilis DegS-DegU histidine kinase-response regulator pair controls the expression of genes encoding degradative enzymes such as levansucrase (sacB) and of genes involved in genetic competence. The mecA and mecB mutations were previously isolated as allowing competence gene expression in complex media. We have shown that the mec mutations also lead to overexpression of sacB, bypassing the DegS-DegU requirement. This expression was shown to be entirely dependent upon ComK, a positive regulator of competence gene expression. The mecB gene was cloned and its nucleotide sequence was determined. The predicted MecB protein show very high similarity over its entire length with members of the ClpC family of ATPases (60% identity). MecB is essential for growth of B. subtilis at high temperature. MecB also acts as a negative regulator of ComK synthesis, thus preventing late competence gene expression. We suggest that under these conditions MecB may interact with MecA to sequester or otherwise inactivate ComK. In response to an unknown signal, active ComK would accumulate through a positive feedback loop, leading to expression of competence genes allowing DNA uptake.

Identification and characterization of PilS, an essential regulator of pilin expression in Pseudomonas aeruginosa

Expression of the pilin gene, pilA, of Pseudomonas aeruginosa requires the alternative sigma factor, sigma 54, and also two other transcriptional regulators encoded by the pilS and pilR genes. These two linked genes, which have been identified by transposon insertion mutagenesis, share significant amino acid sequence homology with members of the two-component family of regulators. The transcriptional regulator, PilR, has been described previously. PilS, a 37,285 Dalton protein, shares significant homology with the protein kinase sensors of the two-component regulatory family. PilS, however, has no hydrophobic domains which might be membrane-spanning alpha-helices, suggesting that PilS is a cytoplasmic protein. Characterization of the pilS gene revealed that when overexpressed in Escherichia coli by the bacteriophage T7 promoter it specifies a protein of approximately 40,000 daltons, corresponding to the molecular weight of PilS predicted from the deduced amino acid sequence. Deletion analysis of the pilS promoter fused to a promoterless lacZ gene further showed that a significant region upstream of pilS is essential for expression of pilS and pilR, suggesting a need for transcriptional activation. The pilA promoter can be activated in E. coli but only when PilR and sigma 54 are present. This work suggests that the PilS activation signal is received in the bacterial cytoplasm, and that the mechanism of PilS/PilR-mediated signal transduction resulting in activation of the pilin gene promoter is likely to be similar to that of other two-component systems.

Mutations in pts cause catabolite-resistant sporulation and altered regulation of spo0H in Bacillus subtilis

A mutation in Bacillus subtilis, ggr-31, that relieves glucose-glutamine-dependent control of a spoVG-lacZ translational fusion was isolated and was subsequently found to confer a pleiotropic phenotype. Mutants cultured in glucose- and glutamine-rich media exhibited a Crs- (catabolite-resistant sporulation) phenotype; enhanced expression of the spo0H gene, encoding sigma H, as evidenced by immunoblot analysis with anti-sigma H antiserum; and derepression of srfA, an operon involved in surfactin biosynthesis and competence development. In addition, ggr-31 mutants exhibited a significant increase in generation time when they were cultured in minimal glucose medium. The mutant phenotype was restored to the wild type by Campbell integration of a plasmid containing part of the ptsG (encoding the enzyme II/III glucose permease) gene, indicating that the mutation probably resides within ptsG and adversely affects glucose uptake. A deletion mutation within ptsI exhibited a phenotype similar to that of ggr-31.

RocR, a novel regulatory protein controlling arginine utilization in Bacillus subtilis, belongs to the NtrC/NifA family of transcriptional activators

Bacillus subtilis can use ammonium and various amino acids as sole nitrogen sources. The utilization of arginine or ornithine is abolished in a sigma L-deficient strain of B. subtilis, indicating that one or several genes involved in this pathway are transcribed by a sigma L-RNA polymerase holoenzyme. Three B. subtilis genes, called rocA, rocB, and rocC, which seem to form an operon, were found near the sacTPA locus (P. Glaser, F. Kunst, M. Arnaud, M.-P. Coudart, W. Gonzales, M.-F. Hullo, M. Ionescu, B. Lubochinsky, L. Marcelino, I. Moszer, E. Presecan, M. Santana, E. Schneider, J. Schweizer, A. Vertes, G. Rapport, and A. Danchin, Mol. Microbiol. 10:371-384, 1993). The expression of this putative operon is induced by arginine and is sigma L dependent. Mutants impaired in the transcription of rocA were obtained. One of these mutants was used as recipient to clone and sequence a new regulatory gene, called rocR. This gene encodes a polypeptide of 52 kDa which belongs to the NtrC/NifA family of transcriptional activators. Upstream activating sequences highly similar to those of NtrC in Escherichia coli were also identified upstream from the rocABC genes. A B. subtilis strain containing a rocR null mutation is unable to use arginine as the sole nitrogen source, indicating that RocR is a positive regulator of arginine catabolism. After LevR, RocR is the second example of an activator stimulating sigma 54-dependent promoters in gram-positive bacteria.

Molecular cloning and sequence of comK, a gene required for genetic competence in Bacillus subtilis

The transformation-deficient strain E26, isolated as a pHV60 insertion mutant, was used to isolate comK, a novel transcription unit required for genetic competence in Bacillus subtilis. Mutational analysis and sequence determination showed that comK contained one open reading frame (ORF), which could encode a protein of 192 amino acid residues with a predicted molecular weight of 22,500. An integrated copy of comK not only complemented the competence deficiency of a comK deletion mutant, but also that of strains E26 and FB93. Expression of comK occurred exclusively in glucose-based minimal medium during the transition to stationary growth phase. Furthermore, the expression of late competence genes appeared to be dependent on the gene product of comK, the expression of which in turn depended on the presence of a functional comL (or srfA) transcription unit. These epistatic interactions indicate that comK is a competence locus occupying an intermediate position in the competence signal transduction network. Primer extension analysis showed that comK has one major transcription start site, preceded by a sequence resembling the consensus promoter used by the sigma A form of RNA polymerase.

The citrulline biosynthetic operon, argC-F, and a ribose transport operon, rbs, from Bacillus subtilis are negatively regulated by Spo0A

A method is described here that can be used to identify operons whose expression is controlled by any particular regulator protein. This method was used to identify operons whose expression is negatively regulated by Spo0A in Bacillus subtilis. Twenty-eight strains were identified, each of which contains an operon-lacZ transcriptional fusion, negatively regulated, either directly or indirectly, by Spo0A. In one of these strains (CSA8), the lacZ gene is fused to the argC-F operon positioned at 100 degrees on the B. subtilis chromosome. The regulated expression of this operon by Spo0A-P is mediated indirectly through the transition state regulator AbrB and is manifest only during growth on solid medium. In a second strain (CSA15), the lacZ gene is fused to an operon encoding a transport system which displays features characteristic of the ABC group of transporters, and which has a very high level of identity to the ribose transport system from Escherichia coli. Expression of the ribose transport operon is directed by a single SigA-type promoter. Transcription from this promoter is repressed by the phosphorylated form of Spo0A during the late-exponential/transition phase of the growth cycle and this control is not mediated through the transition-state regulator, AbrB.

comF, a Bacillus subtilis late competence locus, encodes a protein similar to ATP-dependent RNA/DNA helicases

We have sequenced and genetically characterized comF, a Bacillus subtilis competence locus, previously identified by Tn917 transposon insertion mutagenesis. Expression of the locus, in which three open reading frames (ORFs) were found, is driven by a single sigma A-like promoter in front of comFORF1 and is dependent on early regulatory competence genes and only expressed in competence medium. The predicted amino acid sequences of two of the ORFs showed similarities to known proteins in the GenBank and SwissProt databases: ComFORF1 is similar to an extensive family of ATP-dependent RNA/DNA helicases with closer similarity to the DEAD protein subfamily and to the PriA protein in Escherichia coli. The latter is a DNA translocase/helicase required for primosome assembly at the replication fork of phage phi X174. ComFORF3 is 22% identical to Com101, a protein required for genetic competence in Haemophilus influenzae, a naturally competent Gram-negative bacterium. In-frame comFORF1 deletions were 1000-fold deficient in transformability compared to the wild-type, whereas disruptions of the other two ORFs were only five- to 10-fold lower. These observations allow us to hypothesize that the ComFORF1 late gene product plays an essential role during the binding and uptake events involved in Bacillus subtilis transformation.

Stabilization of phosphorylated Bacillus subtilis DegU by DegR

The production of Bacillus subtilis extracellular proteases is under positive and negative regulation. The functional role of degR, one of the positive regulators, was studied in relation to the degS and degU gene products, which belong to the bacterial two-component regulatory system. Studies with a translational fusion between the Escherichia coli lacZ and the Bacillus subtilis subtilisin (aprE) genes indicated that the stimulatory site of DegR lay upstream of position -140, with the region upstream of position -200 being the major target. It was also found that degS and degU were epistatic to degR. These results suggested some relationship among the degR, degS, and degU gene products. The DegR protein was purified to homogeneity, and its in vitro effect on the phosphorylation reaction involving DegS and DegU was studied. For this purpose, a soluble-extract system in which the formation and dephosphorylation of DegU-phosphate could be examined was devised. The addition of DegR to the soluble-extract system enhanced the formation of DegU-phosphate. The enhancing effect was found to be due to the protection of DegU-phosphate from dephosphorylation. From these results, it was concluded that the positive effect of DegR on the production of the extracellular proteases is brought about by the stabilization of DegU-phosphate, which in turn may result in the stimulation of transcription of the exoprotease genes.

Transcription of the Bacillus subtilis sacX and sacY genes, encoding regulators of sucrose metabolism, is both inducible by sucrose and controlled by the DegS-DegU signalling system

The adjacent sacX and sacY genes are involved in sucrose induction of the Bacillus subtilis sacB gene by an antitermination mechanism. sacB, encoding the exoenzyme levansucrase, is also subject to regulation by the DegS-DegU signalling system. Using sacXY'-lacZ and sacX'-lacZ fusions, we show that the transcription of the sacX and sacY genes is both inducible by sucrose and regulated by DegU. sacX and sacY appear to constitute an operon, since the deletion of the sacX leader region abolished the expression of a sacXY'-lacZ fusion. The degU-dependent promoter was located by deletion analysis and reverse transcriptase mapping 300 nucleotides upstream from the sacX initiator codon. Sucrose induction of the sacX'-lacZ fusion requires either SacY or the homologous SacT antiterminator, which is involved in sucrose induction of the intracellular sucrase gene (sacPA operon). Sequence analysis of the sacX leader region revealed (20 nucleotides downstream from the transcription start site) a putative binding site for these regulators; however, no structure resembling a rho-independent terminator could be found overlapping this site, unlike the situation for sacPA and sacB. Deletion of a segment of the leader region located 100 nucleotides downstream from this site led to constitutive expression of the sacXY'-lacZ and sacX'-lacZ fusions. These results suggest that the mechanism of sucrose induction of sacXY is different from that of sacPA and sacB.

Sporulation regulatory protein GerE from Bacillus subtilis binds to and can activate or repress transcription from promoters for mother-cell-specific genes

The mother-cell line of gene expression during sporulation in Bacillus subtilis is a hierarchical cascade consisting of at least four temporally controlled gene sets, the first three of which each contain a regulatory gene for the next gene set in the pathway. gerE, a member of the penultimate gene set, is a regulatory gene whose products is required for the transcriptional activation of genes (coat protein genes cotB and cotC) in the last gene set. The gerE product also influences the expression of other members of the penultimate gene set (coat protein genes cotA and cotD appear to be repressed and activated, respectively). We now report that the purified product of gerE (GerE) is a DNA-binding protein that adheres to the promoters for cotB and cotC. We also show that GerE stimulates cotB and cotC transcription in vitro by RNA polymerase containing the mother-cell sigma factor sigma K. These findings support the view that GerE is a positively acting, regulatory protein whose appearance at a late stage of development directly activates the transcription of genes in the last known temporal class of mother-cell-expressed genes. In addition, GerE stimulates cotD transcription and inhibits cotA transcription in vitro by sigma K RNA polymerase, as expected from in vivo studies, and, unexpectedly, profoundly inhibits in vitro transcription of the gene (sigK) that encodes sigma K. The effects of GerE on cotD and sigK transcription are just the opposite of the effects exerted by the earlier-appearing, mother-cell regulatory protein spoIIID, suggesting that the ordered appearance of first SpoIIID, then GerE, ensures proper flow of the regulatory cascade controlling gene expression in the mother cell.

Early spo gene expression in Bacillus subtilis: the role of interrelated signal transduction systems

The early spo genes are subject to a number of different control mechanisms. We found that at least one histidine kinase, SpoIIJ, is important for the expression of early spo genes but that two others, ComP and DegS, also affect sporulation, especially when SpoIIJ is absent. This indicates the existence of a signal transduction network which may gather information from several sources to feed into the sporulation pathway. Early spo gene expression is inhibited by overproduction of two response regulators, SpoOF and ComA. This effect is eliminated by the elevated presence of their cognate histidine kinases, SpoIIJ and ComP, respectively. This suggests that the unphosphorylated response regulators cause the inhibition of sporulation.

Regulation of the sacPA operon of Bacillus subtilis: identification of phosphotransferase system components involved in SacT activity

The sacT gene which controls the sacPA operon of Bacillus subtilis encodes a polypeptide homologous to the B. subtilis SacY and the Escherichia coli BglG antiterminators. Expression of the sacT gene is shown to be constitutive. The DNA sequence upstream from sacP contains a palindromic sequence which functions as a transcriptional terminator. We have previously proposed that SacT acts as a transcriptional antiterminator, allowing transcription of the sacPA operon. In strains containing mutations inactivating ptsH or ptsI, the expression of sacPA and sacB is constitutive. In this work, we show that this constitutivity is due to a fully active SacY antiterminator. In the wild-type sacT+ strain or in the sacT30 mutant, SacT requires both enzyme I and HPr of the phosphotransferase system (PTS) for antitermination. It appears that the PTS exerts different effects on the sacB gene and the sacPA operon. The general proteins of the PTS are not required for the activity of SacY while they are necessary for SacT activity.

Streptomyces: a host for heterologous gene expression

Streptomyces species offer many potential advantages as hosts for the expression and secretion of eukaryotic gene products. In this review we discuss the expression and localization signals that have been used to direct heterologous gene expression and the applications of these signals. Finally, we discuss future strategies aimed at increasing the capacity of this host for the high level production of biologically active eukaryotic gene products.