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Spo0A, the key transcriptional regulator for entrance into sporulation, is an inhibitor of DNA replication
Author(s) -
CastillaLlorente Virginia,
MuñozEspín Daniel,
Villar Laurentino,
Salas Margarita,
Meijer Wilfried J J
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
the embo journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 7.484
H-Index - 392
eISSN - 1460-2075
pISSN - 0261-4189
DOI - 10.1038/sj.emboj.7601266
Subject(s) - biology , regulator , replication (statistics) , dna replication , key (lock) , genetics , dna , dna replication factor cdt1 , eukaryotic dna replication , microbiology and biotechnology , computational biology , gene , virology , ecology
The transcription factor Spo0A is a master regulator for entry into sporulation in Bacillus subtilis and also regulates expression of the virulent B. subtilis phage ϕ29. Here, we describe a novel function for Spo0A, being an inhibitor of DNA replication of both, the ϕ29 genome and the B. subtilis chromosome. Binding of Spo0A near the ϕ29 DNA ends, constituting the two origins of replication of the linear ϕ29 genome, prevents formation of ϕ29 protein p6‐nucleoprotein initiation complex resulting in inhibition of ϕ29 DNA replication. At the B. subtilis oriC , binding of Spo0A to specific sequences, which mostly coincide with DnaA‐binding sites, prevents open complex formation. Thus, by binding to the origins of replication, Spo0A prevents the initiation step of DNA replication of either genome. The implications of this novel role of Spo0A for phage ϕ29 development and the bacterial chromosome replication during the onset of sporulation are discussed.