Fujita Lab

Recent Publications (selected)

  1. Vishnoi, M., Narula, J., Devi, S. N., Dao, H. A., Igoshin, O. A., and Fujita, M. (2013) Triggering sporulation in Bacillus subtilis with artificial two-component systems reveals the importance of proper Spo0A activation dynamics. Mol Microbiol 90: 181-194.

  2. Garti-Levi, S., Eswara, A., Smith, Y., Fujita, M., and Ben-Yehuda, S. (2013) Novel Modulators Controlling Entry into Sporulation in Bacillus subtilis. J Bacteriol 195: 1475-1483.

  3. Narula, J, Devi, S. N., Fujita, M., and Igoshin, O. A. (2012) Ultrasensitivity of the Bacillus subtilis sporulation decision. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 109: E3513-3522.
  4. Eswaramoorthy P, Dravis A, Devi SN, Vishnoi M, Dao HA, Fujita M. (2011) Expression level of a chimeric kinase governs entry into sporulation in Bacillus subtilis.J. Bacteriol. 193: 6113-22
  5. Eswaramoorthy P., Duan D., Dinh J., Dravis A., Devi SN., and Fujita M. (2010) The threshold level of the sensor histidine kinase KinA governs entry into sporulation in Bacillus subtilis. J. Bacteriol. 192: 3870-3882
  6. Eswaramoorthy P., Dinh J., Duan D., Igoshin O A., and Fujita M. (2010) Single cell measurement of the levels and distributions of the phosphorelay components in a population of sporulating Bacillus subtilis cells. Microbiology 156: 2294-2304
  7. Eswaramoorthy, P., and Fujita, M. (2010). Systematic domain-deletion analysis of the major sporulation kinase in Bacillus subtilis. J Bacteriol 192, 1744-1748.
  8. Eswaramoorthy, P., and Fujita, M. (2010). Systematic domain-deletion analysis of the major sporulation kinase in Bacillus subtilis. J Bacteriol 192, 1744-1748.
  9. Eswaramoorthy, P., Guo, T., and Fujita, M. (2009). In vivo domain-based functional analysis of the major sporulation sensor kinase, KinA, in Bacillus subtilis. J Bacteriol 191, 5358-5368.
  10. Garti-Levi S., Hazan R., Kain J., Fujita M., Ben-Yehuda S. (2008). The FtsEX ABC transporter directs cellular differentiation in Bacillus subtilis. Mol Microbiol. 69, 1018-28.
  11. Fujita, M., and Losick, R. (2005). Evidence that entry into sporulation in Bacillus subtilis is governed by a gradual increase in the level and activity of the master regulator Spo0A. Genes Dev 19, 2236-2244.
  12. Ben-Yehuda, S., Fujita, M., Liu, X. S., Gorbatyuk, B., Skoko, D., Yan, J., Marko, J. F., Liu, J. S., Eichenberger, P., Rudner, D. Z., and Losick, R. (2005). Defining a centromere-like element in Bacillus subtilis by identifying the binding sites for the chromosome-anchoring protein RacA. Mol Cell 17, 773-782.
  13. Fujita, M., Gonzalez-Pastor, J. E., and Losick, R. (2005). High- and low-threshold genes in the Spo0A regulon of Bacillus subtilis . J Bacteriol 187, 1357-1368.
  14. Eichenberger, P., Fujita, M., Jensen, S. T., Conlon, E. M., Rudner, D. Z., Wang, S. T., Ferguson, C., Haga, K., Sato, T., Liu, J. S., and Losick, R. (2004). The program of gene transcription for a single differentiating cell type during sporulation in Bacillus subtilis . PLoS Biol 2, e328.
  15. Molle, V., Fujita, M., Jensen, S. T., Eichenberger, P., Gonzalez-Pastor, J. E., Liu, J. S., and Losick, R. (2003). The Spo0A regulon of Bacillus subtilis . Mol Microbiol 50, 1683-1701.
  16. Fujita, M., and Losick, R. (2003). The master regulator for entry into sporulation in Bacillus subtilis becomes a cell- specific transcription factor after asymmetric division. Genes Dev 17, 1166-1174.
  17. Eichenberger, P., Jensen, S. T., Conlon, E. M., van Ooij, C., Silvaggi, J., Gonzalez-Pastor, J. E., Fujita, M., Ben- Yehuda, S., Stragier, P., Liu, J. S., and Losick, R. (2003). The SigmaE regulon and the identification of additional sporulation genes in Bacillus subtilis . J Mol Biol 327, 945-972.
  18. Fujita, M., and Losick, R. (2003). The master regulator for entry into sporulation in Bacillus subtilis becomes a cell-specific transcription factor after asymmetric division. Genes Dev 17, 1166-1174.
  19. Eichenberger, P., Jensen, S. T., Conlon, E. M., van Ooij, C., Silvaggi, J., Gonzalez-Pastor, J. E., Fujita, M., Ben-Yehuda, S., Stragier, P., Liu, J. S., and Losick, R. (2003). The σE regulon and the identification of additional sporulation genes in Bacillus subtilis. J Mol Biol 327, 945-972.
  20. Kumano, M., Fujita, M., Nakamura, K., Murata, M., Ohki, R., and Yamane, K. (2003). Lincomycin resistance mutations in two regions immediately downstream of the -10 region of lmr promoter cause overexpression of a putative multidrug efflux pump in Bacillus subtilis mutants. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 47, 432-435.
  21. Suzuma, S., Asari, S., Bunai, K., Yoshino, K., Ando, Y., Kakeshita, H., Fujita, M., Nakamura, K., and Yamane, K. (2002). Identification and characterization of novel small RNAs in the aspS-yrvM intergenic region of the Bacillus subtilis genome. Microbiology 148, 2591-2598.
  22. Fujita, M., and Losick, R. (2002). An investigation into the compartmentalization of the sporulation transcription factor σE in Bacillus subtilis. Mol Microbiol 43, 27-38.
  23. Aramaki, H., Hirata, T., Hara, C., Fujita, M., and Sagara, Y. (2001). Transcription analysis of rpoH in Pseudomonas putida. FEMS Microbiol Lett 205, 165-169.
  24. Nanamiya, H., Takahashi, K., Fujita, M., and Kawamura, F. (2000). Deficiency of the initiation events of sporulation in Bacillus subtilis clpP mutant can be suppressed by a lack of the Spo0E protein phosphatase. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 279, 229-233.
  25. Ikegami, A., Nakasone, K., Fujita, M., Fujii, S., Kato, C., Usami, R., and Horikoshi, K. (2000). Cloning and characterization of the gene encoding RNA polymerase sigma factor σ54 of deep-sea piezophilic Shewanella violacea. Biochim Biophys Acta 1491, 315-320.
  26. Fujita, M. (2000). Temporal and selective association of multiple sigma factors with RNA polymerase during sporulation in Bacillus subtilis. Genes Cells 5, 79-88.
  27. Fujita, M., Sagara, Y., and Aramaki, H. (2000). In vitro transcription system using reconstituted RNA polymerase Eσ70, EσH, EσE and EσS of Pseudomonas aeruginosa. FEMS Microbiol Lett 183, 253-257.
  28. Aramaki, H., and Fujita, M. (1999). In vitro transcription analysis of rpoD in Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO1. FEMS Microbiol Lett 180, 311-316.
  29. Aramaki, H., Sagara, Y., and Fujita, M. (1999). In vitro transcriptional analysis of the cytochrome P-450cam hydroxylase operon. Biol Pharm Bull 22, 1110-1112.
  30. Aramaki, H., Sagara, Y., and Fujita, M. (1999). Cloning and sequencing of rpoH and identification of ftsE-ftsX in Pseudomonas putida PpG1. DNA Res 6, 241-245.
  31. Fujita, M. (1999). Identification of new sigma K-dependent promoters using an in vitro transcription system derived from Bacillus subtilis. Gene 237, 45-52.
  32. Fujita, Y., Ogasawara, N., Sadaie, Y., Fujita, M., Yoshida, K., Yoshikawa, H., Miwa, Y., Yamamoto, H., Sekiguchi, J., Kumano, M., et al. (1999). The genome of Bacillus subtilis and the features of its genes (in Japanese). Tanpakushitsu Kakusan Koso 44, 1449-1459.
  33. Fujita, M., and Sadaie, Y. (1998). Rapid isolation of RNA polymerase from sporulating cells of Bacillus subtilis. Gene 221, 185-190.
  34. Fujita, M., and Sadaie, Y. (1998). Promoter selectivity of the Bacillus subtilis RNA polymerase sigma A and sigma H holoenzymes. J Biochem (Tokyo) 124, 89-97.
  35. Fujita, M., and Sadaie, Y. (1998). Feedback loops involving Spo0A and AbrB in in vitro transcription of the genes involved in the initiation of sporulation in Bacillus subtilis. J Biochem (Tokyo) 124, 98-104.
  36. Fujita, M., Amemura, A., and Aramaki, H. (1998). Transcription of the groESL operon in Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO1. FEMS Microbiol Lett 163, 237-242.
  37. Asai, K., Fujita, M., Kawamura, F., Takahashi, H., Kobayashi, Y., and Sadaie, Y. (1998). Restricted transcription from sigma H or phosphorylated spo0A dependent promoters in the temperature-sensitive secA341 mutant of Bacillus subtilis. Biosci Biotechnol Biochem 62, 1707-1713.
  38. Han, W. D., Kawamoto, S., Hosoya, Y., Fujita, M., Sadaie, Y., Suzuki, K., Ohashi, Y., Kawamura, F., and Ochi, K. (1998). A novel sporulation-control gene (spo0M) of Bacillus subtilis with a sigma H-regulated promoter. Gene 217, 31-40.
  39. Nanamiya, H., Ohashi, Y., Asai, K., Moriya, S., Ogasawara, N., Fujita, M., Sadaie, Y., and Kawamura, F. (1998). ClpC regulates the fate of a sporulation initiation sigma factor, sigma H protein, in Bacillus subtilis at elevated temperatures. Mol Microbiol 29, 505-513.
  40. Sadaie, Y., Yata, K., Fujita, M., Sagai, H., Itaya, M., Kasahara, Y., and Ogasawara, N. (1997) Nucleotide sequence and analysis of the phoB-rrnE-groESL region of the Bacillus subtilis chromosome. Microbiology 143, 1861-1866.
  41. Kunst, F., Ogasawara, N., Moszer, I., Albertini, A. M., Alloni, G., Azevedo, V., Bertero, M. G., Bessieres, P., Bolotin, A., Borchert, S., Borriss, R., Boursier, L., Brans, A., Braun, M., Brignell, S. C., Bron, S., Brouillet, S., Bruschi, C. V., Caldwell, B., Capuano, V., Carter, N. M., Choi, S.-K., Codani, J.-J., Connerton, I. F., Cummings, N. J., Daniel, R. A., Denizot, F., Devine, K. M., Dusterhoft, A., Ehrlich, S. D., Emmerson, P. T., Entian, K. D., Errington, J., Fabret, C., Ferrari, E., Foulger, D., Fritz, C., Fujita, M., Fujita, Y., Fuma, S., Galizzi, A., Galleron, N., Ghim, S.-Y., Glaser, P., Goffeau, A., Golightly, E. J., Grandi, G., Guiseppi, G., Guy, B. J., Haga, K., Haiech, J., Harwood, C. R., Henaut, A., Hilbert, H., Holsappel, S., Hosono, S., Hullo, M.-F., Itaya, M., Jones, L., Joris, B., Karamata, D., Kasahara, Y., Klaerr-Blanchard, M., Klein, C., Kobayashi, Y., Koetter, P., Koningstein, G., Krogh, S., Kumano, M., Kurita, K., Lapidus, A., Lardinois, S., Lauber, J., Lazarevic, V., Lee, S.-M., Levine, A., Liu, H., Masuda, S., Mauel, C., Medigue, C., Medina, N., Mellado, R. P., Mizuno, M., Moestl, D., Nakai, S., Noback, M., Noone, D., O’Reilly, M., Ogawa, K. Ogiwara, A. Oudega, B., Park, S.-H., Parro, V., Pohl, T. M., Portetelle, D., Porwollik, S., Prescott, A.M., Presecan, E., Pujic, P., Purnelle, B., Rapoport, G., Rey, M., Reynolds, S. Rieger, M., Rivolta, C., Rocha, E., Roche, B., Rose, M., Sadaie, Y., Sato, T., Scanlan, E., Schleich, S., Schroeter, R., Scoffone, F., Sekiguchi, J., Sekowska, A., Seror, S. J., Serror, P., Shin, B.-S., Soldo, B., Sorokin, A., Tacconi, E., Takagi, T., Takahashi, H., Takemaru, K., Takeuchi, M., Tamakoshi, A., Tanaka, T., Terpstra, P., Tognoni, A., Tosato, V., Uchiyama, S., Vandenbol, M., Vannier, F., Vassarotti, A., Viari, A., Wambutt, R., Wedler, E., Wedler, H., Weitzenegger, T., Winters, P., Wipat, A., Yamamoto, H., Yamane, K., Yasumoto, K., Yata, K., Yoshida, K., Yoshikawa, H.-F., Zumstein, E., Yoshikawa, H., and Danchin, A. (1997). The complete genome sequence of the Gram-positive bacterium Bacillus subtilis. Nature 390, 249-256.
  42. Fujita, M., Hanaura, Y., and Amemura, A. (1995). Analysis of the rpoD gene encoding the principal sigma factor of Pseudomonas putida. Gene 167, 93-98.
  43. Aramaki, H., Fujita, M., Sagara, Y., Amemura, A., and Horiuchi, T. (1994). Heterologous expression of the cytochrome P450cam hydroxylase operon and the repressor gene of Pseudomonas putida in Escherichia coli. FEMS Microbiol Lett 123, 49-54.
  44. Fujita, M., Kan Tanaka, H., Hideo Takahashi, and Amemura, A. (1994). Transcription of the principal sigma-factor genes, rpoD and rpoS, in Pseudomonas aeruginosa is controlled according to the growth phase. Mol Microbiol 13, 1071-1077.
  45. Fujita, M., Aramaki, H., Horiuchi, T., and Amemura, A. (1993). Transcription of the cam operon and camR genes in Pseudomonas putida PpG1. J Bacteriol 175, 6953-6958.
  46. Fujita, M., Tanaka, K., Takahashi, H., and Amemura, A. (1993). Organization and transcription of the principal sigma gene (rpoDA) of Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO1: involvement of a sigma 32-like RNA polymerase in rpoDA gene expression. J Bacteriol 175, 1069-1074.
  47. Fujita, M., and Amemura, A. (1992). Purification and characterization of a DNA-dependent RNA polymerase from Pseudomonas putida. Biosci Biotechnol Biochem 56, 1797-1800.
  48. Fujita, M., and Amemura, A. (1992). In vitro interactions of Pseudomonas RNA polymerases with tac and RNA promoters. Biosci Biotechnol Biochem 56, 1644-1648.
  49. Fujita, M., Sakai, S., Futai, M., and Amemura, A. (1990) Characterization of an isoamylase-hyperproducing mutant of Pseudomonas amyloderamosa. Agric Biol Chem 54:2315-2321.
  50. Fujita, M., Futai, M., and Amemura, A. (1990). In vivo expression of the Pseudomonas stutzeri maltotetraose-forming amylase gene (amyP). J Bacteriol 172, 1595-1599.
  51. Fujita, M., Amemura, A., and Futai, M. (1989). Transcription of the isoamylase gene (iam) in Pseudomonas amyloderamosa SB-15. J Bacteriol 171, 4320-4325.
  52. Fujita, M., Kubota, M., Futai, M., and Amemura, A. (1989). Identification and DNA sequencing of a new plasmid (pPST1) in Pseudomonas stutzeri MO-19. Plasmid 22, 271-274.
  53. Fujita, M., Torigoe, K., Nakada, T., Tsusaki, K., Kubota, M., Sakai, S., and Tsujisaka, Y. (1989). Cloning and nucleotide sequence of the gene (amyP) for maltotetraose-forming amylase from Pseudomonas stutzeri MO-19. J Bacteriol 171, 1333-1339.
  54. Amemura, A., Chakraborty, R., Fujita, M., Noumi, T., and Futai, M. (1988). Cloning and nucleotide sequence of the isoamylase gene from Pseudomonas amyloderamosa SB-15. J Biol Chem 263, 9271-9275.
  55. Fujita, M., and Kobayashi, Y. (1985). Cloning of sporulation gene spoIVC in Bacillus subtilis. Mol Gen Genet 199, 471-475.
   

Masaya Fujita
Biology and Biochemistry Department
University of Houston
Houston, Texas 77204-5001

Office: HSC 430
Phone: (713)743-9479
Email: mfujita@uh.edu