1887

Abstract

The objective of the present study was to investigate whether SpxA2 plays a role in competence development and endogenous HO generation, and whether the SpxA2 Cys-XX-Cys (CXXC) motif is involved in competence development.

The competence development of wild-type (SK36) and its derivatives was compared by transformation efficiency assay and real-time RT-PCR. The allele mutants, (C10A) and (C13A), were constructed by site-directed mutagenesis. The mutant was treated with 1 mM HO to exclude the effect of other Pox products on competence development.

Compared with the wild-type (4.42±0.58×10), the mutant showed decreased transformation efficiency (0.07±0.03×10). Furthermore, there was a 2- to 15-fold reduction in mutant gene expression. SpxA2 was able to down-regulate endogenous HO generation by repressing expression. Additionally, endogenous HO negatively regulated competence without affecting expression. The mutant increased gene expression (2- to 8-fold), but the 1 mM HO-treated mutant showed decreased gene expression. Interestingly, the mutant showed enhanced competence-associated parameters. The fact that (C10A) and (C13A) behaved like the mutant revealed the role of the CXXC motif in competence development.

Although the intricate relationship between SpxA2, pox-mediated HO production and competence development was clarified in , it would be worthwhile to explore further whether HO is involved in competence development through oxidizing the SpxA2 CXXC motif.

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2017-07-01
2024-12-06
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