Characterization of a prokaryotic SMC protein involved in chromosome partitioning (original) (raw)

1. Robert A. Britton,
2. Daniel Chi-Hong Lin, and
3. Alan D. Grossman
4. Department of Biology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139 USA

Abstract

smc of Bacillus subtilis encodes a homolog of eukaryotic SMC proteins involved in chromosome condensation, pairing, and partitioning. A null mutation in B. subtilis smc caused a temperature-sensitive–lethal phenotype in rich medium. Under permissive conditions, the mutant had abnormal nucleoids, ∼10% of the cells were anucleate, and assembly of foci of the chromosome partitioning protein Spo0J was altered. In combination with a null mutation in spo0J, the smc mutation caused a synthetic phenotype; cell growth was slower and ∼25% of the cells were anucleate. Our results demonstrate that the B. subtilis Smc protein, like its eukaryotic counterpart, plays an important role in chromosome structure and partitioning.

• Bacillus subtilis
• chromosome condensation
• chromosome partitioning
• green fluorescent protein
• Smc
• sporulation

Footnotes

• ↵Corresponding author.

• E-MAIL adg{at}mit.edu; FAX (617) 253-2643.

• • Received January 27, 1998.
  • Accepted March 6, 1998.

• Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press

•