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The BceRS two‐component regulatory system induces expression of the bacitracin transporter, BceAB, in Bacillus subtilis
Author(s) -
Ohki Reiko,
Tateno Kozue,
Masuyama Waka,
Moriya Shigeki,
Kobayashi Kazuo,
Ogasawara Naotake
Publication year - 2003
Publication title -
molecular microbiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.857
H-Index - 247
eISSN - 1365-2958
pISSN - 0950-382X
DOI - 10.1046/j.1365-2958.2003.03653.x
Subject(s) - biology , bacillus subtilis , response regulator , bacitracin , operon , two component regulatory system , atp binding cassette transporter , sigma factor , gene , rna polymerase , regulation of gene expression , gene expression , promoter , microbiology and biotechnology , genetics , transporter , bacteria , rna , escherichia coli , mutant , antibiotics
Summary BceA and bceB encode a nucleotide‐binding domain (NBD) and membrane‐spanning domain (MSD) subunit, respectively, of an ATP‐binding cassette (ABC) transporter in Bacillus subtilis . Disruption of these genes resulted in hypersensitivity to bacitracin, a peptide antibiotic that is non‐ribosomally synthesized in some strains of Bacillus . Northern hybridization analyses showed that expression of the bceAB operon is induced by bacitracin present in the growth medium. The bceRS genes encoding a two‐component regulatory system are located immediately upstream of bceAB . Deletion analyses of the bceAB promoter together with DNase I footprinting experiments revealed that a sensor kinase, BceS, responds to extracellular bacitracin either directly or indirectly and transmits a signal to a cognate response regulator, BceR. The regulator binds directly to the upstream region of the bceAB promoter and upregulates the expression of bceAB genes. The bcrC gene product is additionally involved in bacitracin resistance. The expression of bcrC is dependent on the ECF σ factors, σ M and σ X , but not on the BceRS two‐component system. In view of these results, possible roles of BceA, BceB and BcrC in bacitracin resistance of B. subtilis 168 are discussed.