Use of immunofluorescence to visualize cell-specific gene expression during sporulation in Bacillus subtilis.

AUTOR(ES)

Harry, E J

RESUMO

We have adapted immunofluorescence microscopy for use in Bacillus subtilis and have employed this procedure for visualizing cell-specific gene expression at early to intermediate stages of sporulation. Sporangia were doubly stained with propidium iodide to visualize the forespore and mother cell nucleoids and with fluorescein-conjugated antibodies to visualize the location of beta-galactosidase produced under the control of the sporulation RNA polymerase sigma factors sigma E and sigma F. In confirmation and extension of earlier reports, we found that expression of a lacZ fusion under the control of sigma E was confined to the mother cell compartment of sporangia at the septation (II) and engulfment (III) stages of morphogenesis. Conversely, sigma F-directed gene expression was confined to the forespore compartment of sporangia at postseptation stages of development. Little indication was found for sigma E- or sigma F-directed gene expression prior to septation or in both compartments of postseptation sporangia. Gene expression under the control of the forespore sigma factor sigma G also exhibited a high level of compartmentalization. A high proportion of sporangia exhibited fluorescence in our immunostaining protocol, which should be suitable for the subcellular localization of sporulation proteins for which specific antibodies are available.

Documentos Relacionados

• Use of green fluorescent protein for visualization of cell-specific gene expression and subcellular protein localization during sporulation in Bacillus subtilis.
• Analysis of the role of prespore gene expression in the compartmentalization of mother cell-specific gene expression during sporulation of Bacillus subtilis.
• Expression of a Bacillus megaterium sporulation-specific gene during sporulation of Bacillus subtilis.
• Disappearance of the sigma E transcription factor from the forespore and the SpoIIE phosphatase from the mother cell contributes to establishment of cell-specific gene expression during sporulation in Bacillus subtilis.
• Use of temperature-sensitive mutants to study gene expression during sporulation in Bacillus subtilis.