Abstract
SPORULATION in Bacillus subtilis is associated with specific changes in RNA metabolism required for the expression of sporulation genes. Although net RNA synthesis stops abruptly at the end of logarithmic growth (T0), active turnover and differential transcription of the genome have been demonstrated1–3. Losick and Sonnenshein4 suggested that modifications of RNA polymerase may play a primary role in the regulation of gene expression during the sporulation process. The expression of ribosomal RNA genes during this period has been subject to conflicting reports1,5–7. The reported turn-off of these genes at the onset of sporulation5,6 has not been observed in similar experiments7. The latter, and the reported changes in template specificity of RNA polymerase4,8 were shown to be strongly dependent on the nature of the sporulation medium and to a lesser extent on the phenotype (sp+ or sp−) of the strain7,8. We have analysed the pattern of synthesis and turnover of stable RNA components in B. subtilis induced to sporulate in the highly defined resuspension medium, SM (ref. 9). We report that rRNA synthesis does continue during sporulation, although at a reduced rate, resulting in the gradual replacement of vegetative rRNA components by similar newly synthesised sporulation species.
This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution
Access options
Subscribe to this journal
Receive 51 print issues and online access
$199.00 per year
only $3.90 per issue
Buy this article
- Purchase on Springer Link
- Instant access to full article PDF
Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Blassa, G., Ann. Inst. Pasteur Paris, 110, 175 (1966).
DiCioccio, R. A., and Strauss, N., J. molec. Biol., 77, 325 (1973).
Sumida-Yasumoto, C., and Doi, R. H., J. Bact., 177, 775 (1974).
Losick, R., and Sonenshein, A. L., Nature, 224, 35 (1969).
Hussey, C., Losick, R., and Sonenshein, A. L., J. molec. Biol., 57 59 (1971)
Hussey, C., Pero, J., Shorenstein, R. G., and Losick, R., Proc. natn. Acad. Sci. U.S.A., 69, 407 (1972).
Bonamy, C., Hirschbein, L., and Szulmajster, J., J. Bact., 113, 1296 (1973).
Murray, C. D., Pun, P., and Strauss, N., Biochem. biophys. Res. Commun., 60, 295 (1974).
Sterlini, J. M., and Mandelstam, J., Biochem. J., 113, 29 (1969).
Schmidt, G., and Thannhauser, S. J., J. biol. Chem., 161, 83 (1945).
Schneider, W. C., Methods in Enzymology, 3 (edit. by Colowick, S. P., and Kaplan, N. O.), 680 (Academic, New York, 1957).
Burton, K., Methods in Enzymology, 12, part B (edit. by Grossman, L., and Moldave, K.), 163 (Academic, New York, 1968).
Torriani, A., Biochim. biophys. Acta., 38, 460 (1960).
Oishi, M., and Sueoka, N., Proc. natn. Acad. Sci. U.S.A., 54, 483 (1965).
Fraenkel-Conrat, H., Singer, B., and Tsugita, A., Virology, 14, 54 (1961).
Kerjan, P., and Szulmajster, J., Biochem. biophys. Res. Commun., 59, 1079 (1974).
Kanamori, N., Sakabe, K., and Okazaki, R., Biochim. biophys. Acta, 335, 155 (1973).
Margulies, L., Remeza, V., and Rudner, R., J. Bact., 103, 560 (1970).
Margulies, L., Remeza, V., and Rudner, R., J. Bact., 107, 610 (1971).
Smith, I., Dubnau, D., Norell, P., and Marmur, J., J. molec. Biol., 33, 123 (1968).
Midgley, J. E. M., Biochem. J., 115, 171 (1969).
Maaløe, O., and Kjeldgaard, N. O., Control of Macromolecular Synthesis, 97 (Benjamin, New York and Amsterdam, 1966).
Lazzarini, R. A., and Winslow, R. M., Cold Spring Harb. Symp. quant. Biol., 35, 383 (1970).
Schaeffer, P., Millet, J., and Aubert, J. P., Proc. natn. Acad. Sci. U.S.A., 54, 571 (1965).
Leighton, T. J., and Doi, R. H., J. biol. Chem., 246, 3189 (1971).
Sonenshein, A. L., and Roscoe, D. H., Virology, 39, 265 (1969).
Bray, G. A., Analyt. Biochem., 1, 279 (1970).
Spizizen, J., Proc. natn. Acad. Sci. U.S.A., 44, 1072 (1958).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
TESTA, D., RUDNER, R. Synthesis of ribosomal RNA during speculation in Bacillus subtilis. Nature 254, 630–632 (1975). https://doi.org/10.1038/254630a0
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/254630a0
This article is cited by
-
An alternative strategy for bacterial ribosome synthesis: Bacillus subtilis rRNA transcription regulation
The EMBO Journal (2004)
-
Uracil incorporation in the forespore and the mother cell during spore development in Bacillus subtilis
Archives of Microbiology (1978)
Comments
By submitting a comment you agree to abide by our Terms and Community Guidelines. If you find something abusive or that does not comply with our terms or guidelines please flag it as inappropriate.