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The Master Regulator Spo0A Integrates DNA Sequence and Shape to Regulate the Sporulation Kinase Gene kinA in Bacillus subtilis.

Λεπτομέρειες βιβλιογραφικής εγγραφής
Τίτλος: The Master Regulator Spo0A Integrates DNA Sequence and Shape to Regulate the Sporulation Kinase Gene kinA in Bacillus subtilis.
Συγγραφείς: Zahid SH; Department of Biology and Biochemistry, University of Houston, Houston, Texas, USA., Zarazúa-Osorio B; Department of Biology and Biochemistry, University of Houston, Houston, Texas, USA., Escobedo R; Department of Biology and Biochemistry, University of Houston, Houston, Texas, USA., Ullah S; Department of Biology and Biochemistry, University of Houston, Houston, Texas, USA., Dona SKK; Department of Biology and Biochemistry, University of Houston, Houston, Texas, USA., Fujita M; Department of Biology and Biochemistry, University of Houston, Houston, Texas, USA.
Πηγή: Molecular microbiology [Mol Microbiol] 2026 Oct; Vol. 126 (4), pp. 359-378. Date of Electronic Publication: 2026 Jul 28.
Τύπος έκδοσης: Journal Article
Γλώσσα: English
Στοιχεία περιοδικού: Publisher: Blackwell Scientific Publications Country of Publication: England NLM ID: 8712028 Publication Model: Print-Electronic Cited Medium: Internet ISSN: 1365-2958 (Electronic) Linking ISSN: 0950382X NLM ISO Abbreviation: Mol Microbiol Subsets: MEDLINE
Imprint Name(s): Original Publication: Oxford, OX ; Boston, MA : Blackwell Scientific Publications, c1987-
Ιατρικοί όροι (MeSH): Bacillus subtilis*/genetics , Bacillus subtilis*/metabolism , Bacterial Proteins*/genetics , Bacterial Proteins*/metabolism , Protein Kinases*/genetics , Protein Kinases*/metabolism , Transcription Factors*/metabolism , Transcription Factors*/genetics, Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial/genetics ; Spores, Bacterial/genetics ; Spores, Bacterial/metabolism ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; DNA, Bacterial/metabolism ; Promoter Regions, Genetic ; Phosphorylation ; Transcription, Genetic
Περίληψη: Sporulation in starved Bacillus subtilis depends on precise control of kinA, which encodes the major phosphorelay kinase that generates the threshold level of phosphorylated Spo0A (Spo0A~P) required for entry into sporulation. Here, we define the regulatory logic that shapes kinA expression and uncover structural features that influence Spo0A~P recruitment. First, we show that the kinA promoter integrates positive and negative Spo0A~P inputs through a composite three-site 0A-box architecture. Distinct affinities and cooperative interactions among the three sites generate a controlled output in which activating and repressive inputs are balanced during starvation, maintaining basal-to-moderate kinA transcription. Second, we identify intrinsic DNA bending as a sequence-independent mechanism that enhances Spo0A~P engagement, promoting low-specificity interactions that may contribute to transcriptional regulation and more broadly chromosome organization. Finally, we show that both the kinA promoter and KinA protein domains diverge between pathogenic and nonpathogenic Bacillus species, reflecting niche-specific evolutionary pressures on sporulation initiation. Together, these findings support an integrated model in which promoter architecture and DNA shape collectively tune Spo0A~P dependent regulation of kinA.
(© 2026 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)
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Grant Information: E-2099-20220331 Welch Foundation
Contributed Indexing: Keywords: Bacillus subtilis; histidine kinase; phosphorelay; response regulator; sporulation
Local Abstract: [plain-language-summary] Spore‐forming bacteria survive starvation by entering sporulation, but how this developmental switch is controlled is not fully understood. We show that the master regulator Spo0A controls the major sporulation kinase gene kinA through three DNA‐binding sites and the shape of the DNA itself. Together, these features help regulate the transition from growth to sporulation.
Substance Nomenclature: 0 (Bacterial Proteins)
0 (Spo0A protein, Bacillus subtilis)
EC 2.7.- (Protein Kinases)
0 (Transcription Factors)
0 (kinA protein, Bacillus subtilis)
0 (DNA, Bacterial)
Entry Date(s): Date Created: 20260728 Date Completed: 20261007 Latest Revision: 20261007
Update Code: 20261008
DOI: 10.1111/mmi.70100
PMID: 42520298
Βάση Δεδομένων: MEDLINE
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  Data: The Master Regulator Spo0A Integrates DNA Sequence and Shape to Regulate the Sporulation Kinase Gene kinA in Bacillus subtilis.
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AU" term="%22Zahid+SH%22">Zahid SH</searchLink>; Department of Biology and Biochemistry, University of Houston, Houston, Texas, USA.<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AU" term="%22Zarazúa-Osorio+B%22">Zarazúa-Osorio B</searchLink>; Department of Biology and Biochemistry, University of Houston, Houston, Texas, USA.<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AU" term="%22Escobedo+R%22">Escobedo R</searchLink>; Department of Biology and Biochemistry, University of Houston, Houston, Texas, USA.<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AU" term="%22Ullah+S%22">Ullah S</searchLink>; Department of Biology and Biochemistry, University of Houston, Houston, Texas, USA.<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AU" term="%22Dona+SKK%22">Dona SKK</searchLink>; Department of Biology and Biochemistry, University of Houston, Houston, Texas, USA.<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AU" term="%22Fujita+M%22">Fujita M</searchLink>; Department of Biology and Biochemistry, University of Houston, Houston, Texas, USA.
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– Name: Abstract
  Label: Abstract
  Group: Ab
  Data: Sporulation in starved Bacillus subtilis depends on precise control of kinA, which encodes the major phosphorelay kinase that generates the threshold level of phosphorylated Spo0A (Spo0A~P) required for entry into sporulation. Here, we define the regulatory logic that shapes kinA expression and uncover structural features that influence Spo0A~P recruitment. First, we show that the kinA promoter integrates positive and negative Spo0A~P inputs through a composite three-site 0A-box architecture. Distinct affinities and cooperative interactions among the three sites generate a controlled output in which activating and repressive inputs are balanced during starvation, maintaining basal-to-moderate kinA transcription. Second, we identify intrinsic DNA bending as a sequence-independent mechanism that enhances Spo0A~P engagement, promoting low-specificity interactions that may contribute to transcriptional regulation and more broadly chromosome organization. Finally, we show that both the kinA promoter and KinA protein domains diverge between pathogenic and nonpathogenic Bacillus species, reflecting niche-specific evolutionary pressures on sporulation initiation. Together, these findings support an integrated model in which promoter architecture and DNA shape collectively tune Spo0A~P dependent regulation of kinA.<br /> (© 2026 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)
– Name: Ref
  Label: References
  Group: RefInfo
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– Name: GrantInfo
  Label: Grant Information
  Group: Grant
  Data: E-2099-20220331 Welch Foundation
– Name: SubjectMinor
  Label: Contributed Indexing
  Group:
  Data: <i>Keywords: </i>Bacillus subtilis; histidine kinase; phosphorelay; response regulator; sporulation<br /><i>Local Abstract: </i>[plain-language-summary] Spore‐forming bacteria survive starvation by entering sporulation, but how this developmental switch is controlled is not fully understood. We show that the master regulator Spo0A controls the major sporulation kinase gene kinA through three DNA‐binding sites and the shape of the DNA itself. Together, these features help regulate the transition from growth to sporulation.
– Name: NumberCAS
  Label: Substance Nomenclature
  Group: ID
  Data: 0 (Bacterial Proteins)<br />0 (Spo0A protein, Bacillus subtilis)<br />EC 2.7.- (Protein Kinases)<br />0 (Transcription Factors)<br />0 (kinA protein, Bacillus subtilis)<br />0 (DNA, Bacterial)
– Name: DateEntry
  Label: Entry Date(s)
  Group: Date
  Data: <i>Date Created: </i>20260728 <i>Date Completed: </i>20261007 <i>Latest Revision: </i>20261007
– Name: DateUpdate
  Label: Update Code
  Group: Date
  Data: 20261008
– Name: DOI
  Label: DOI
  Group: ID
  Data: 10.1111/mmi.70100
– Name: AN
  Label: PMID
  Group: ID
  Data: 42520298
PLink https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=cmedm&AN=42520298
RecordInfo BibRecord:
  BibEntity:
    Identifiers:
      – Type: doi
        Value: 10.1111/mmi.70100
    Languages:
      – Code: eng
        Text: English
    PhysicalDescription:
      Pagination:
        StartPage: 359
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial genetics
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Spores, Bacterial genetics
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Spores, Bacterial metabolism
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: DNA, Bacterial genetics
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: DNA, Bacterial metabolism
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Promoter Regions, Genetic
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Phosphorylation
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Transcription, Genetic
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Bacillus subtilis genetics
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Bacillus subtilis metabolism
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Bacterial Proteins genetics
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Bacterial Proteins metabolism
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Protein Kinases genetics
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Protein Kinases metabolism
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Transcription Factors metabolism
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Transcription Factors genetics
        Type: general
    Titles:
      – TitleFull: The Master Regulator Spo0A Integrates DNA Sequence and Shape to Regulate the Sporulation Kinase Gene kinA in Bacillus subtilis.
        Type: main
  BibRelationships:
    HasContributorRelationships:
      – PersonEntity:
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            NameFull: Zahid SH
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            NameFull: Zarazúa-Osorio B
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            NameFull: Escobedo R
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            NameFull: Ullah S
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            NameFull: Dona SKK
      – PersonEntity:
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            NameFull: Fujita M
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          Dates:
            – D: 01
              M: 10
              Text: 2026 Oct
              Type: published
              Y: 2026
          Identifiers:
            – Type: issn-electronic
              Value: 1365-2958
          Numbering:
            – Type: volume
              Value: 126
            – Type: issue
              Value: 4
          Titles:
            – TitleFull: Molecular microbiology
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