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Sequence and properties of mecA , a negative regulator of genetic competence in Bacillus subtilis
Author(s) -
Kong Liyun,
Siranosian Kathryn Jaacks,
Grossman Alan D.,
Dubnau David
Publication year - 1993
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 - 10.1111/j.1365-2958.1993.tb01697.x
Subject(s) - biology , bacillus subtilis , gene , sccmec , genetics , plasmid , competence (human resources) , regulator gene , mutant , gene expression , bacteria , staphylococcus aureus , methicillin resistant staphylococcus aureus , psychology , social psychology
Summary The development of competence in Bacillus subtilis is regulated by growth conditions and several regulatory genes. In complex media competence development is poor, and there is little or no expression of late competence genes, mec mutations permit competence development and late competence gene expression in complex media, and bypass the requirements for many of the competence regulatory genes. In this paper we describe the cloning and characterization of mecA. The mecA gene product acts negatively in the development of competence. Null mutations in mecA allowed expression of a late competence gene comG , under conditions where it is not normally expressed, including in complex media and in cells mutant for several competence regulatory genes. Overexpression of MecA from a multicopy plasmid resulted in inhibition of comG transcription. The DNA sequence of mecA was determined and the predicted gene product showed no significant similarity to any protein in the database. Expression of a mecA–lacZ translational fusion was constitutive during growth and did not vary significantly in the different media tested. The rote of mec A in competence development and other stationary phase phenomena is discussed.