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Structural Analysis of Bacillus subtilis Sigma Factors
Katherine M Collins1, Nicola J Evans1, James H Torpey1
1Department of Chemistry, King's College London, Britannia House, 7 Trinity Street, London SE1 1DB, UK.
Microorganisms
|April 28, 2023
Summary
Bacteria utilize sigma factors for gene regulation. AlphaFold provides models for these disordered proteins, aiding structural and functional studies in Bacillus subtilis, including the SigE factor involved in spore formation.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Structural Biology
- Genetics
Background:
- Bacteria employ diverse sigma factors to control gene expression throughout their life cycles.
- Obtaining experimental, atomic-level structures of sigma factors is difficult due to intrinsic disorder.
- Computational tools like AlphaFold now offer predictive full-length models for many sigma factors.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review current knowledge on sigma factor structure and function in Bacillus subtilis.
- To present a novel X-ray crystal structure of a key region of Bacillus subtilis SigE.
- To explore the role of SigE in bacterial spore formation.
Main Methods:
- Utilized AlphaFold for predicting full-length sigma factor models.
- Performed X-ray crystallography to determine the atomic structure of a SigE region.
- Integrated structural data with functional insights into Bacillus subtilis development.
Main Results:
- AlphaFold generated plausible models for a majority of bacterial sigma factors.
- An X-ray crystal structure was obtained for a significant portion of Bacillus subtilis SigE.
- SigE's structure provides insights into its critical role in spore formation.
Conclusions:
- Predictive modeling and experimental structures are advancing the understanding of sigma factor biology.
- The structure of SigE offers a foundation for further research into bacterial differentiation.
- This work highlights the utility of integrating computational and experimental approaches.
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