A ς 54 Activator Protein Necessary for Spore Differentiation within the Fruiting Body of Myxococcus xanthus

Abstract

ABSTRACT Insertion of an internal DNA fragment into the act1 gene, which encodes one of several ς 54 -activator proteins in Myxococcus xanthus , produced a mutant defective in fruiting body development. While fruiting-body aggregation appears normal in the mutant, it fails to sporulate (<10 −6 the wild-type number of viable spores). The A and C intercellular signals, which are required for sporulation, are produced by the mutant. But, while it produces A-factor at levels as high as that of the wild type, the mutant produces much less C-signal than normal, as measured either by C-factor bioassay or by the total amount of C-factor protein detected with specific antibody. Expression of three C-factor-dependent reporters is altered in the mutant: the level of expression of Ω4414 is about 15% of normal, and Ω4459 and Ω4403 have alterations in their time course. Finally, the methylation of FrzCD protein is below normal in the mutant. It is proposed that Act1 protein responds to C-signal reception by increasing the expression of the csgA gene. This C-signal-dependent increase constitutes a positive feedback in the wild type. The act1 mutant, unable to raise the level of csgA expression, carries out only those developmental steps for which a low level of C-signaling is adequate.