Expression of a germination-specific amidase, SleB, of Bacilli in the forespore compartment of sporulating cells and its localization on the exterior side of the cortex in dormant spores.

ABSTRACT: A germination-specific amidase of bacilli is a major spore-lytic enzyme that is synthesized with a putative signal sequence and hydrolyses spore cortex in situ. The sleB gene encoding this amidase in Bacillus subtilis and Bacillus cereus was expressed in the forespore compartment of sporulating cells under the control of sigmaG, as shown by Northern blot and primer extension analyses. The forespore-specific expression of B. subtilis sleB was further indicated by the forespore-specific accumulation of a SleB-green fluorescent protein fusion protein from which a putative secretion signal of SleB was deleted. Immunoelectron microscopy with anti-SleB antiserum and a colloidal gold-immunoglobulin G complex showed that the enzymes from both Bacillus species are located just inside the spore coat

SUBMITTER: Moriyama R 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC93660 | biostudies-literature | 1999 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature