ArticlePLoS genetics2012
Spo0A~P imposes a temporal gate for the bimodal expression of competence in Bacillus subtilis.
Article in PLoS genetics, 2012. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 26 papers.
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Who cites it
26 citing papers in PubMed, 58 citations in OpenAlex.
- Changes in Spo0A~P pulsing frequency control biofilm matrix deactivation.PLoS computational biology · 2025Article
- Plasmid-encoded phosphatase RapP enhances cell growth in non-domesticated Bacillus subtilis strains.Nature communications · 2024Article
- Termination factor Rho mediates transcriptional reprogramming of Bacillus subtilis stationary phase.PLoS genetics · 2023Article
- Identification of Functional Spo0A Residues Critical for Sporulation in Clostridioides difficile.Journal of molecular biology · 2022Article
- Article
- Crosstalk between guanosine nucleotides regulates cellular heterogeneity in protein synthesis during nutrient limitation.PLoS genetics · 2022Article
- Single-Molecule Dynamics of DNA Receptor ComEA, Membrane Permease ComEC, and Taken-Up DNA in Competent Bacillus subtilis Cells.Journal of bacteriology · 2022Article
- Influence of B. subtilis 3NA mutations in spo0A and abrB on surfactin production in B. subtilis 168.Microbial cell factories · 2021Article
- Influence of the ABC Transporter YtrBCDEF ofFrontiers in microbiology · 2021Article
- Antibiotic sensitivity reveals that wall teichoic acids mediate DNA binding during competence in Bacillus subtilis.Nature communications · 2018Article
- Genetic and Structural Analyses of RRNPP Intercellular Peptide Signaling of Gram-Positive Bacteria.Annual review of genetics · 2017Review
- Viscous drag on the flagellum activates Bacillus subtilis entry into the K-state.Molecular microbiology · 2017Article
- Genetic networks controlled by the bacterial replication initiator and transcription factor DnaA in Bacillus subtilis.Molecular microbiology · 2017Article
- The RicAFT (YmcA-YlbF-YaaT) complex carries two [4Fe-4S]Molecular microbiology · 2017Article
- A protein complex supports the production of Spo0A-P and plays additional roles for biofilms and the K-state in Bacillus subtilis.Molecular microbiology · 2016Article
- A DegU-P and DegQ-Dependent Regulatory Pathway for the K-state inFrontiers in microbiology · 2016Article
- ComGA-RelA interaction and persistence in the Bacillus subtilis K-state.Molecular microbiology · 2015Article
- A Novel Feedback Loop That Controls Bimodal Expression of Genetic Competence.PLoS genetics · 2015Article
- MreB-Dependent Inhibition of Cell Elongation during the Escape from Competence in Bacillus subtilis.PLoS genetics · 2015Article
- Novel mechanisms of controlling the activities of the transcription factors Spo0A and ComA by the plasmid-encoded quorum sensing regulators Rap60-Phr60 in Bacillus subtilis.Molecular microbiology · 2015Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
4 authors at 2 institutions in 1 country.
Funding
Abstract
ComK transcriptionally controls competence for the uptake of transforming DNA in Bacillus subtilis. Only 10%-20% of the cells in a clonal population are randomly selected for competence. Because ComK activates its own promoter, cells exceeding a threshold amount of ComK trigger a positive feedback loop, transitioning to the competence ON state. The transition rate increases to a maximum during the approach to stationary phase and then decreases, with most cells remaining OFF. The average basal rate of comK transcription increases transiently, defining a window of opportunity for transitions and accounting for the heterogeneity of competent populations. We show that as the concentration of the response regulator Spo0A∼P increases during the entry to stationary phase it first induces comK promoter activity and then represses it by direct binding. Spo0A∼P activates by antagonizing the repressor, Rok. This amplifies an inherent increase in basal level comK promoter activity that takes place during the approach to stationary phase and is a general feature of core promoters, serving to couple the probability of competence transitions to growth rate. Competence transitions are thus regulated by growth rate and temporally controlled by the complex mechanisms that govern the formation of Spo0A∼P. On the level of individual cells, the fate-determining noise for competence is intrinsic to the comK promoter. This overall mechanism has been stochastically simulated and shown to be plausible. Thus, a deterministic mechanism modulates an inherently stochastic process.
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Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.