HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via CrossRef Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Whalen, M. B. Articles by Piggot, P. J. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Whalen, M. B. Articles by Piggot, P. J. Agricola Articles by Whalen, M. B. Articles by Piggot, P. J.

Gain-of-function mutation of sapB that affects formation of alkaline phosphatase by Bacillus subtilis in sporulation conditions

Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Temple University School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19140, USA

²Author for correspondence: Patrick J. Piggot. Tel: + 1 215 707 7927. Fax: + 1 215 707 7788. e-mail: piggotp@astro.ocis.temple.edu

ABSTRACT

The sapB locus was defined by mutations that render sporulation alkaline phosphatase formation independent of s^f and s^E without affecting the temporal control of formation. The sapB locus has been cloned and sequenced. The deduced polypeptide is 232 amino acids long, with a molecular mass of 26 kDa. It is very similar to four sequences in the database, none of which has a known function. Analysis of the transcription of sapB indicates that it is induced during late exponential phase, and that maximum expression is reached during the first hour of stationary phase, both under sporulation and non-sporulation conditions. The defining mutations of the locus, sapB2 and sapB10, have been sequenced and found to contain the same change, a G A transition resulting in an Ala₁₁₁ Thr switch. This mutation apparently results in a gain-of-function, as sapB null mutants are indistinguishable from sap⁺ strains in terms of their APase production during sporulation.