Study of the formation process of the Bacillus subtilis spore polysaccharide layer for potential applications.

2017 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 15K18675
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (B)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Applied microbiology
• Research Institution: Hosei University
• Principal Investigator: ABE Kimihiro 法政大学, マイクロ・ナノテクノロジー研究センター, 研究員 (10748940)
• Project Period (FY): 2015-04-01 – 2018-03-31
• Keywords: 枯草菌 / 胞子 / 多糖類合成 / 遺伝子再編成 / 部位特異的DNA組換え / ファージ

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Bacillus subtilis spore is surrounded by a polysaccharide layer. This study was aimed for understanding of the morphological process of formation of the polysaccharide layer. Here, we uncovered the molecular mechanism of activation of spsM, which was identified as an essential gene for the generation of the polysaccharide layer. In search for the other members that are required for the polysaccharide layer production, we identified spsABCDEFGIJKL, cgeAB, cgeCDE, cotVWXYZ, and gerE which encodes the transcriptional factor for their expression. Based on the amino-acids sequences, Sps and Cge proteins are considered to synthesize and elongate the polysaccharides. Furthermore, we revealed that spore coat proteins, CotW, CotX, and CotZ, play the important role in the attachment of the polysaccharides on the spore surface.

Free Research Field

農芸化学