Abstract
The capacity to form endospores is unique to certain members of the low-G+C group of Gram-positive bacteria (Firmicutes) and requires signature sporulation genes that are highly conserved across members of distantly related genera, such as Clostridium and Bacillus. Using gene conservation among endospore-forming bacteria, we identified eight previously uncharacterized genes that are enriched among endospore-forming species. The expression of five of these genes was dependent on sporulation-specific transcription factors. Mutants of none of the genes exhibited a conspicuous defect in sporulation, but mutants of two, ylxY and ylyA, were outcompeted by a wild-type strain under sporulation-inducing conditions, but not during growth. In contrast, a ylmC mutant displayed a slight competitive advantage over the wild type specific to sporulation-inducing conditions. The phenotype of a ylyA mutant was ascribed to a defect in spore germination efficiency. This work demonstrates the power of combining phylogenetic profiling with reverse genetics and gene-regulatory studies to identify unrecognized genes that contribute to a conserved developmental process.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 253-260 |
| Number of pages | 8 |
| Journal | Journal of Bacteriology |
| Volume | 195 |
| Issue number | 2 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Jan 2013 |
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ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Microbiology
- Molecular Biology
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Gene conservation among endospore-forming bacteria reveals additional sporulation genes in Bacillus subtilis. / Traag, Bjorn A.; Pugliese, Antonia; Eisen, Jonathan A; Losick, Richard.
In: Journal of Bacteriology, Vol. 195, No. 2, 01.2013, p. 253-260.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Gene conservation among endospore-forming bacteria reveals additional sporulation genes in Bacillus subtilis
AU - Traag, Bjorn A.
AU - Pugliese, Antonia
AU - Eisen, Jonathan A
AU - Losick, Richard
PY - 2013/1
Y1 - 2013/1
N2 - The capacity to form endospores is unique to certain members of the low-G+C group of Gram-positive bacteria (Firmicutes) and requires signature sporulation genes that are highly conserved across members of distantly related genera, such as Clostridium and Bacillus. Using gene conservation among endospore-forming bacteria, we identified eight previously uncharacterized genes that are enriched among endospore-forming species. The expression of five of these genes was dependent on sporulation-specific transcription factors. Mutants of none of the genes exhibited a conspicuous defect in sporulation, but mutants of two, ylxY and ylyA, were outcompeted by a wild-type strain under sporulation-inducing conditions, but not during growth. In contrast, a ylmC mutant displayed a slight competitive advantage over the wild type specific to sporulation-inducing conditions. The phenotype of a ylyA mutant was ascribed to a defect in spore germination efficiency. This work demonstrates the power of combining phylogenetic profiling with reverse genetics and gene-regulatory studies to identify unrecognized genes that contribute to a conserved developmental process.
AB - The capacity to form endospores is unique to certain members of the low-G+C group of Gram-positive bacteria (Firmicutes) and requires signature sporulation genes that are highly conserved across members of distantly related genera, such as Clostridium and Bacillus. Using gene conservation among endospore-forming bacteria, we identified eight previously uncharacterized genes that are enriched among endospore-forming species. The expression of five of these genes was dependent on sporulation-specific transcription factors. Mutants of none of the genes exhibited a conspicuous defect in sporulation, but mutants of two, ylxY and ylyA, were outcompeted by a wild-type strain under sporulation-inducing conditions, but not during growth. In contrast, a ylmC mutant displayed a slight competitive advantage over the wild type specific to sporulation-inducing conditions. The phenotype of a ylyA mutant was ascribed to a defect in spore germination efficiency. This work demonstrates the power of combining phylogenetic profiling with reverse genetics and gene-regulatory studies to identify unrecognized genes that contribute to a conserved developmental process.
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U2 - 10.1128/JB.01778-12
DO - 10.1128/JB.01778-12
M3 - Article
VL - 195
SP - 253
EP - 260
JO - Journal of Bacteriology
JF - Journal of Bacteriology
SN - 0021-9193
IS - 2
ER -