TRANSCRIPTION OF SPOIVB IS THE ONLY ROLE OF SIGMA(G) THAT IS ESSENTIAL FOR PRO-SIGMA(K) PROCESSING DURING SPORE FORMATION IN BACILLUS-SUBTILIS

Activation of pro-sigma(K) processing in the mother cell at late stages of sporulation in Bacillus subtilis requires the presence of active sigma(G) in the forespore. Placing the spoIVB gene under the control of sigma(F), the early forespore transcription factor, allows sigma(K) to become active in the absence of sigma(G). Therefore, transcription of spoIVB is the only role of sigma(G) that is essential for the signaling pathway between sigma(G) and sigma(K).