Analysis of the mRNAs in Spores of Bacillus subtilis

Abstract

Previous work indicates that dormant Bacillus subtilis spores have many hundreds of mRNAs, some of which are suggested to play roles in spores’ “return to life” or revival. The present work finds only ∼46 mRNAs at ≥1 molecule spore, with others in only fractions of spores in populations, often very small fractions. Less-abundant spore mRNAs are not contaminants in spore preparations, but how spores accumulate them is not clear. Almost all abundant spore mRNAs are synthesized in the developing spore late in its development, most encode proteins in spores, and abundant mRNAs in spores are relatively stable at 4°C. These findings will have a major impact on thinking about the roles that spore mRNAs may play in spore revival.