Acetylation of the histone-like protein HBsu at specific sites alters gene expression during sporulation in

Introduction: Sporulation is an adaptive response to starvation in bacteria that consists of a series of developmental changes in cellular morphology and physiology, leading to the formation of a highly resistant endospore. In Methods: Previously, we found that the acetylation of different lysine residues on HBsu impairs sporulation frequency and spore resistance properties. One mechanism by which HBsu influences the process of sporulation could be through the regulation of gene expression. To test this idea, we performed RT-qPCR to analyze gene expression throughout the sporulation process in wildtype and seven acetylation-mimicking (lysine to glutamine substitutions) mutant strains. Results: Acetylation of HBsu at K41 increased the expression of key early and late sporulation genes, especially during the later stages. For example, overexpression σ Discussion: These findings suggest that K41 acetylation activates gene expression and might represent an "on-off" switch for important regulatory factors as cells transition from early to late phases. We propose that the acetylation of HBsu at specific sites regulates gene expression during sporulation and this is required for proper timing and coordination.