Short CommunicationClostridium perfringens tpeL is expressed during sporulation

Clostridium perfringens TpeL belongs to the family of large clostridial toxins. Although recent studies demonstrated the expression of tpeL during vegetative growth nothing is known about tpeL expression during sporulation. Our current study demonstrated that tpeL: (i) is also expressed during sporulation; (ii) expression is dependent on the master regulator of sporulation, Spo0A, and the sporulation-specific sigma factor, SigE; and (iii) is localized to the mother cell compartment of the sporulating cell. In summary, these results indicate that TpeL is a sporulation-regulated C. perfringens toxin.

► tpeL is also expressed during sporulation. ► tpeL expression is dependent on the master regulator of sporulation, Spo0A. ► tpeL expression is dependent on the sporulation-specific sigma factor, SigE. ► tpeL expression is localized to the mother cell compartment of the sporulating cell.