Abstract
Spore formation by the bacterium Bacillus subtilis is an elaborate developmental process that is triggered by nutrient limitation. Here we report that cells that have entered the pathway to sporulate produce and export a killing factor and a signaling protein that act cooperatively to block sister cells from sporulating and to cause them to lyse. The sporulating cells feed on the nutrients thereby released, which allows them to keep growing rather than to complete morphogenesis. We propose that sporulation is a stress-response pathway of last resort and that B. subtilis delays a commitment to spore formation by cannibalizing its siblings.
Publication types
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Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
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Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.
MeSH terms
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Adenosine Triphosphate / metabolism
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Bacillus subtilis / genetics
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Bacillus subtilis / metabolism
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Bacillus subtilis / physiology*
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Bacterial Proteins / genetics
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Bacterial Proteins / metabolism*
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Bacteriolysis
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Gene Expression Profiling
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Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial*
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Genes, Bacterial
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Mutation
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Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis
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Operon*
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Sigma Factor / genetics
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Sigma Factor / metabolism
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Signal Transduction
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Spores, Bacterial / physiology*
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Transcription Factors / genetics
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Transcription Factors / metabolism
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Transcription, Genetic
Substances
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Bacterial Proteins
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SigW protein, Bacillus subtilis
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Sigma Factor
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Transcription Factors
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spore-specific proteins, Bacillus
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Adenosine Triphosphate