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Novel cortex lytic enzymes in Bacillus megaterium QM B1551 spores.

Accepted version
Peer-reviewed

Type

Article

Change log

Authors

Riyami, Bahja Al 
Ghosh, Abhinaba 
Rees, Eric J 

Abstract

Present models for spore germination in Bacillus species include a requirement for either the SleB or CwlJ cortex lytic enzymes to efficiently depolymerise the spore cortex. Previous work has demonstrated that B. megaterium spores may differ to other species in this regard, since sleB cwlJ null mutant spores complemented with the gene in trans for the non-peptidoglycan lysin YpeB can efficiently degrade the cortex. Here, we identify two novel cortex lytic enzymes, encoded at the BMQ_2391 and BMQ_3234 loci, which are essential for cortex hydrolysis in the absence of SleB and CwlJ. Ellipsoid localisation microscopy places the BMQ_3234 protein within the inner-spore coat, a region of the spore that is populated by other cortex lytic enzymes. The findings reinforce the idea that there is a degree of variation in mechanisms of cortex hydrolysis across the Bacillales, raising potential implications for environmental decontamination strategies based upon targeted inactivation of components of the spore germination apparatus.

Description

Keywords

Bacillus, cortex lytic enzyme, peptidoglycan lysin, spore germination, Bacillus megaterium, Bacterial Proteins, Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial, Peptidoglycan, Spores, Bacterial

Journal Title

FEMS Microbiol Lett

Conference Name

Journal ISSN

0378-1097
1574-6968

Volume Title

366

Publisher

Oxford University Press (OUP)

Rights

All rights reserved
Sponsorship
BAR was the recipient of a scholarship from the Sultanate of Oman government. AG was the recipient of a Cambridge Nehru Scholarship and received support from the Raymond and Beverly Sackler Foundation.