Analyses of mrp genes during Myxococcus xanthus development

Myxococcus xanthus is a gram-negative soil bacterium that undergoes develop ment under starvation conditions. Our previous study identified a new genet ic locus, mrp, which is required for both; fruiting body formation and spor ulation. The locus encodes two transcripts:, mrpAB, which consists of a his tidine kinase and an NtrC-like response regulator, and mrpC, a cyclic AMP r eceptor protein family transcription activator. In this study, we used gene tic and biochemical analyses to investigate the possible interactions betwe en the mrp genes and other known developmental genes and events. These, stu dies, show that the mrp genes possibly function after A-signaling and (p)pp Gpp but before C-signaling and that they regulate various early and late de velopmental genes and events.