Open AccessInvolvement of acetyl phosphate in the in vivo activation of the response regulator ComA in Bacillus subtilis
Author(s) -
Kim SeongBin,
Shin ByungSik,
Choi SooKeun,
Kim ChiKyung,
Park SeungHwan
Publication year - 2001
Publication title -
fems microbiology letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.899
H-Index - 151
eISSN - 1574-6968
pISSN - 0378-1097
DOI - 10.1111/j.1574-6968.2001.tb10518.x
Subject(s) - response regulator , bacillus subtilis , mutant , operon , biochemistry , biology , lac operon , microbiology and biotechnology , chemistry , two component regulatory system , escherichia coli , genetics , bacteria , gene
Development of genetic competence in Bacillus subtilis is regulated by ComP–ComA, a two‐component signal transduction system. The response regulator ComA is primarily activated by ComP, a histidine kinase that mediates response to nutrient conditions and cell density, and the activated ComA is required for transcription of the srf operon, which is essential for the development of genetic competence and surfactin production. In this study we suggested that the ComA could also be activated by a small molecule phospho‐donor, acetyl phosphate. Examination of srfA‐lacZ expression indicated that a significant amount of srfA expression still occurs in the comP mutant during growth in a sporulation medium containing excess glucose. Analysis of a comP and pta mutant suggests that srfA activation seen in the comP mutant is dependent on the expression of pta , which encodes phosphotransacetylase (Pta). As Pta is responsible for the catalysis for conversion of acetyl coenzyme A to acetyl phosphate, we conclude that the expression of srfA seen in the comP mutant is mainly due to the activation of ComA by acetyl phosphate.