The alternative sigma factor SigN of is intrinsically toxic.

Sigma factors bind and direct the RNA polymerase core to specific promoter sequences, and alternative sigma factors direct transcription of different regulons of genes. Here, we study the pBS32 plasmid-encoded sigma factor SigN of to determine how it contributes to DNA damage-induced cell death. We find that SigN causes cell death when expressed at high levels and does so in the absence of its regulon suggesting it is intrinsically toxic.

The alternative sigma factor SigN of is intrinsically toxic.

Unlabelled: Sigma factors bind and direct the RNA polymerase core to specific promoter sequences and alternative sigma factors direct transcription of different regulons of genes. Here, we study the pBS32 plasmid-encoded sigma factor SigN of to determine how it contributes to DNA damage-induced cell death. We find that SigN causes cell death when expressed at high level and does so in the absence of its regulon suggesting it is intrinsically toxic.

Identification of Genes Required for Swarming Motility in Using Transposon Mutagenesis and High-Throughput Sequencing (TnSeq).

Bacillus subtilis exhibits swarming motility, a flagellar-mediated form of surface motility. Here, we use transposon mutagenesis and sequencing (TnSeq) to perform a high-throughput screen for candidate genes required for swarming. The TnSeq approach identified all of the known genes required for flagellar biosynthesis and nearly all of the previously reported regulators that promote swarming.

Low costs of adaptation to dietary restriction.

Dietary restriction (DR) is the most successful and widespread means of extending organismal lifespan. However, the evolutionary basis of life extension under DR remains uncertain. The traditional evolutionary explanation is that when organisms experience DR, they allocate endogenous resources to survival and postpone reproduction until conditions improve.