Bacillus subtilis spoIIIE Protein Required for DNA Segregation During Asymmetric Cell Division

Sporulation in Bacillus subtilis begins with an asymmetric cell division, producing a smaller prespore and a larger mother cell, both of which contain intact copies of the chromosome. The spoIIIE gene is required for chromosome segregation into the prespore compartment. The effects of the spoIIIE36 mutation on σ F -dependent transcription are an indirect consequence of the failure of certain genes to enter the cellular compartment in which their transcription factor has become active. SpoIIIE may also be required to prevent σ F from becoming active in the mother cell.