Differential expression of a prophage-encoded glycocin and its immunity protein suggests a mutualistic strategy of a phage and its host.

ABSTRACT: Sublancin 168 is a highly potent and stable antimicrobial peptide secreted by the Gram-positive bacterium Bacillus subtilis. Production of sublancin gives B. subtilis a major competitive growth advantage over a range of other bacteria thriving in the same ecological niches, the soil and plant rhizosphere. B. subtilis protects itself against sublancin by producing the cognate immunity protein SunI. Previous studies have shown that both the sunA gene for sublancin and the sunI immunity gene are encoded by the prophage SPβ. The sunA gene is under control of several transcriptional regulators. Here we describe the mechanisms by which sunA is heterogeneously expressed within a population, while the sunI gene encoding the immunity protein is homogeneously expressed. The key determinants in heter

SUBMITTER: Denham EL 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6391423 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature