Transcriptional control of dacB, which encodes a major sporulation-specific penicillin-binding protein.

Sporulation-specific sigma factor E (sigma E) of Bacillus subtilis is both necessary and sufficient for transcription of the dacB gene, which encodes penicillin-binding protein 5*. Evidence in support of this conclusion was obtained by primer extension analysis of dacB transcripts and the induction of active sigma E with subsequent synthesis of PBP 5* in vegetative cells.