The Bacillus subtilis extracytoplasmic function σ factor σ(V) is induced by lysozyme and provides resistance to lysozyme.

ABSTRACT: Bacteria encounter numerous environmental stresses which can delay or inhibit their growth. Many bacteria utilize alternative σ factors to regulate subsets of genes required to overcome different extracellular assaults. The largest group of these alternative σ factors are the extracytoplasmic function (ECF) σ factors. In this paper, we demonstrate that the expression of the ECF σ factor σ(V) in Bacillus subtilis is induced specifically by lysozyme but not other cell wall-damaging agents. A mutation in sigV results in increased sensitivity to lysozyme killing, suggesting that σ(V) is required for lysozyme resistance. Using reverse transcription (RT)-PCR, we show that the previously uncharacterized gene yrhL (here referred to as oatA for O-acetyltransferase) is in a four-gene operon which in

SUBMITTER: Ho TD 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3209206 | biostudies-literature | 2011 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature