As the bacterium Bacillus subtilis differentiates from the vegetative form into a dormant endospore, complex morphological and physiological changes occur which require the sequential expression of many genes. During the process, new RNA polymerase sigma subunits appear, displacing one another in a sequential cascade and conferring on the RNA polymerase a changing specificity for the recognition of different classes of promoters. This mechanism of altering transcriptional specificity may be a fundamental element in the regulation of sporulation gene expression. Experiments are proposed to determine how sigma factors work to change the specificity for the recognition of promoters by RNA polymerase and to determine how expression of a sporulation- induced sigma is regulated. Additional experiments are proposed to characterize how the spoO gene products regulate transcription of genes during the early phase of sporulation and to determine the signals that control the compartmentalization of gene expression. These studies are directly relevant to understanding the regulation of differentiation and secondary metabolism in a broad range of bacteria. Furthermore, the biochemical principles that enable a protein to direct RNA polymerase to specific sites on DNA are probably relevant to RNA polymerases in all organisms.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID)
Type
Modified Research Career Development Award (K04)
Project #
5K04AI000760-04
Application #
3070823
Study Section
Microbial Physiology and Genetics Subcommittee 2 (MBC)
Project Start
1987-09-01
Project End
1992-08-31
Budget Start
1990-09-01
Budget End
1991-08-31
Support Year
4
Fiscal Year
1990
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
Emory University
Department
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
042250712
City
Atlanta
State
GA
Country
United States
Zip Code
30322
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Tatti, K M; Carter 3rd, H L; Moir, A et al. (1989) Sigma H-directed transcription of citG in Bacillus subtilis. J Bacteriol 171:5928-32
Kenney, T J; Kirchman, P A; Moran Jr, C P (1988) Gene encoding sigma E is transcribed from a sigma A-like promoter in Bacillus subtilis. J Bacteriol 170:3058-64
Carter 3rd, H L; Wang, L F; Doi, R H et al. (1988) rpoD operon promoter used by sigma H-RNA polymerase in Bacillus subtilis. J Bacteriol 170:1617-21
Rather, P N; Moran Jr, C P (1988) Compartment-specific transcription in Bacillus subtilis: identification of the promoter for gdh. J Bacteriol 170:5086-92