2020
A regulatory pathway that selectively up-regulates elongasome function in the absence of class A PBPs
Patel Y, Zhao H, Helmann J. A regulatory pathway that selectively up-regulates elongasome function in the absence of class A PBPs. ELife 2020, 9: e57902. PMID: 32897856, PMCID: PMC7478892, DOI: 10.7554/elife.57902.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsPenicillin-binding proteinsAlternative sigma factor σClass A penicillin-binding proteinsSigma factor σSuppressor analysisMreB homologsPeptidoglycan assemblyCell elongationWall synthesisPeptidoglycan synthesisRegulatory pathwaysCell shapeTransglycosylase activityStress responseFunction mutationsFactor σAPBPsDependent upregulationRodAMreBHFtsWHomologCellsPeptidoglycanAutolysin
2019
Mutations of the Bacillus subtilis YidC1 (SpoIIIJ) insertase alleviate stress associated with σM-dependent membrane protein overproduction
Zhao H, Sachla A, Helmann J. Mutations of the Bacillus subtilis YidC1 (SpoIIIJ) insertase alleviate stress associated with σM-dependent membrane protein overproduction. PLOS Genetics 2019, 15: e1008263. PMID: 31626625, PMCID: PMC6827917, DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1008263.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsCell wall synthesisWall synthesisHydrophilic grooveMembrane protein insertaseMembrane protein overproductionIntegral membrane proteinsDNA damage responseSingle amino acid substitutionAmino acid substitutionsProtein translocaseSecretion stressFitness defectsOxidative stressDamage responseMembrane proteinsProtein overproductionRegulon inductionCell wallRegulonAcid substitutionsB. subtilisBacillus subtilisFunction mutationsCell deathCell growthDeciphering the essentiality and function of the anti‐σM factors in Bacillus subtilis
Zhao H, Roistacher D, Helmann J. Deciphering the essentiality and function of the anti‐σM factors in Bacillus subtilis. Molecular Microbiology 2019, 112: 482-497. PMID: 30715747, PMCID: PMC6679829, DOI: 10.1111/mmi.14216.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsAnti-sigma factorAlternative sigma factorSigma factorRNA polymerase core enzymeCell wall homeostasisStress conditionsSigma factor activitySevere growth defectBeta prime subunitCell wall synthesisAbility of mutationsDepletion strainCore enzymeTranscriptional landscapeSuppressor mutationsGrowth defectMerodiploid strainsRNA polymeraseWall synthesisMutations mapWall homeostasisAccessory proteinsPositive feedback loopBacillus subtilisFactor activity