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Microbial genetics

Organ grinder not monkey?

Nature Reviews Genetics volume 4, page 407 (2003)Cite this article

B. subtilis is a well-characterized model system for differentiation and programmed cell-specific gene expression. During sporulation in Bacillus, two cell-types form: the mother cell and the forespore, which is destined to become a spore. Mutants that lack the SpoOA response regulator fail to enter the developmental pathway that leads to sporulation.

A complex phosphorelay integrates metabolic, environmental and cell-cycle cues to activate SpoOA. Phosphorylated SpoOA activates the transcription of sporulation genes, which tips the balance so that sporulation occurs. So, as in eukaryotes, the phosphorylation of key proteins regulates cell-cycle progression.

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References

ORIGINAL RESEARCH PAPER

  1. Fujita, M. & Losick, R. The master regulator for entry into sporulation in Bacillus subtilis becomes a cell-specific transcription factor after asymmetric division. Genes Dev. 1, 1–10 (2003)

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FURTHER READING

  1. Jensen, R. B. et. al. Dynamic localization of proteins and DNA during a bacterial cell cycle Nature Rev. Mol. Cell Biol. 3, 167–176 (2002)

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Associate Editor, Nature Reviews Microbiology,

    Susan Jones

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  1. Susan Jones
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Jones, S. Organ grinder not monkey?. Nat Rev Genet 4, 407 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1038/nrg1102

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/nrg1102

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