Repression of sigK intervening (skin) element gene expression by the CI-like protein SknR and effect of SknR depletion on growth of Bacillus subtilis cells.

ABSTRACT: The Bacillus subtilis phage DNA-like sigK intervening (skin) element (48 kb) is excised from the chromosome by DNA rearrangement, and a composite gene, sigK (spoIIIC and spoIVCB), is created on the chromosome during sporulation. In this study, we first focused on the role of sknR (skin repressor), which has homology with the gene encoding the Xre repressor of defective phage PBSX. The depletion of SknR caused overexpression of the region between yqaF and yqaN (the yqaF-yqaN operon) and a growth defect in B. subtilis. Point mutation analysis and an electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA) suggested that SknR functions as a negative regulator of gene expression in the yqaF-yqaN operon of the skin element through direct interaction with operators of 2-fold symmetry located in the intergeni

SUBMITTER: Kimura T 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2981210 | biostudies-literature | 2010 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature