GerT, a Newly Discovered Germination Gene Under the Control of the Sporulation Transcription Factor SigmaK in Bacillus Subtilis

Overview

Journal J Bacteriol

Publisher American Society for Microbiology

Specialty Microbiology

Date 2007 Aug 28

PMID 17720779

Citations 10

Authors

Caitlin C Ferguson

Amy H Camp

Richard Losick

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

We report the identification of a gene, herein designated gerT (formerly yozR), that is involved in germination by spores of Bacillus subtilis. The gerT gene is induced late in sporulation under the positive control of the transcription factor sigma(K) and under the negative control of the DNA-binding protein GerE. The gerT gene product (GerT) is a component of the spore coat, and its incorporation into the coat takes place in two stages. GerT initially assembles into foci, which then spread around the developing spore in a process that is dependent on the morphogenetic protein CotE. Mutant spores lacking GerT respond poorly to multiple germinants and are impaired at an early stage of germination.

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