A BACILLUS-SUBTILIS GENE-ENCODING PROTEIN HOMOLOGOUS TO EUKARYOTIC SMC MOTOR PROTEIN IS NECESSARY FOR CHROMOSOME PARTITION

Citation
S. Moriya et al., A BACILLUS-SUBTILIS GENE-ENCODING PROTEIN HOMOLOGOUS TO EUKARYOTIC SMC MOTOR PROTEIN IS NECESSARY FOR CHROMOSOME PARTITION, Molecular microbiology, 29(1), 1998, pp. 179-187
Citations number
42
Language
INGLESE
art.tipo
Article
Categorie Soggetti
Biology,Microbiology
Journal title
ISSN journal
0950-382X
Volume
29
Issue
1
Year of publication
1998
Pages
179 - 187
Database
ISI
SICI code
0950-382X(1998)29:1<179:ABGPHT>2.0.ZU;2-1
Abstract
We have analysed the function of a gene of Bacillus subtilis, the prod uct of which shows significant homology with eukaryotic SMC proteins e ssential for chromosome condensation and segregation. Two mutant strai ns were constructed; in one, the expression was under the control of t he inducible spae promoter (conditional null) and, in the other, the g ene was disrupted by insertion (disrupted null). Both could form colon ies at 23 degrees C but not at 37 degrees C in the absence of the expr ession of the Smc protein, indicating that the B. subtilis sme gene wa s essential for cell growth at higher temperatures. Microscopic examin ation revealed the formation of anucleate and elongated cells and diff usion of nucleoids within the elongated cells in the disrupted null mu tant grown at 23 degrees C and in the conditional null mutant grown in low concentrations of IPTG at 37 degrees C. In addition, immunofluore scence microscopy showed that subcellular localization of the Spo0J pa rtition protein was irregular in the sme disrupted null mutant, compar ed with bipolar localization in wild-type cells, These results indicat e that the B. subtilis sme gene is essential for chromosome partition. The role of B, subtilis Smc protein in chromosome partition is discus sed.