A sporulation membrane protein tethers the pro-sigmaK processing enzyme to its inhibitor and dictates its subcellular localization

Genes Dev. 2002 Apr 15;16(8):1007-18. doi: 10.1101/gad.977702.

Abstract

The developmental transcription factor sigmaK is derived from the inactive precursor protein pro-sigmaK by regulated proteolysis during the process of sporulation in the bacterium Bacillus subtilis. The putative pro-sigmaK processing enzyme SpoIVFB is a member of a family of membrane-embedded metalloproteases and is held inactive by two other integral membrane proteins, SpoIVFA and BofA. Herein we show that the processing enzyme and its two regulators exist in a multimeric complex that localizes to the membrane surrounding the developing spore (the forespore). We further show that one of the regulators, SpoIVFA, plays a central role in both the formation of this complex and its subcellular localization. Evidence is presented in support of a model in which SpoIVFA acts as a platform for bringing BofA and SpoIVFB together, whereby BofA inhibits pro-sigmaK processing until a signal has been received from the forespore.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Bacillus subtilis
  • Bacterial Proteins / metabolism*
  • Cell Membrane / metabolism
  • Endopeptidases*
  • Macromolecular Substances
  • Membrane Proteins / metabolism
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Protein Binding / physiology
  • Protein Processing, Post-Translational / physiology*
  • Repressor Proteins*
  • Sequence Homology, Amino Acid
  • Spores, Bacterial / metabolism
  • Transcription Factors / metabolism*

Substances

  • Bacterial Proteins
  • Macromolecular Substances
  • Membrane Proteins
  • Repressor Proteins
  • Transcription Factors
  • sigma K
  • bofA protein, Bacillus subtilis
  • spoIVFA protein, Bacillus subtilis
  • Endopeptidases
  • spoIVFB protein, Bacillus subtilis