Inducible DNA repair and differentiation in Bacillus subtilis: interactions between global regulons

The SOS response of Escherichia coli has become a paradigm for the study of inducible DNA repair and recombination processes in many different organisms. While these studies have demonstrated that the components of the SOS response appear to be highly conserved among bacterial species, as with most models, there are some significant variations. Perhaps the best example of this comes from an analysis of the SOS-like system of the developmental organism, Bacillus subtilis. Accordingly, the most striking difference is the complex developmental regulation of the SOS system as this organism differentiates into its competent state. In this review we have given an overview of the elements that comprise the SOS system of B. subtilis. Additionally, we have summarized our most recent findings regarding the regulation of this regulon. Using these results along with new findings from other laboratories we have provided provocative molecular models for the regulation of the B. subtilis SOS system in response to DNA damage and during competent cell formation.