Transcriptional profiling of the Bacillus anthracis life cycle in vitro and an implied model for regulation of spore formation.

ABSTRACT: The life cycle of Bacillus anthracis includes both vegetative and endospore morphologies which alternate based on nutrient availability, and there is considerable evidence indicating that the ability of this organism to cause anthrax depends on its ability to progress through this life cycle in a regulated manner. Here we report the use of a custom B. anthracis GeneChip in defining the gene expression patterns that occur throughout the entire life cycle in vitro. Nearly 5,000 genes were expressed in five distinct waves of transcription as the bacteria progressed from germination through sporulation, and we identified a specific set of functions represented within each wave. We also used these data to define the temporal expression of the spore proteome, and in doing so we have demonstrated

SUBMITTER: Bergman NH 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC1595399 | biostudies-literature | 2006 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature