FosB, a Cysteine-Dependent Fosfomycin Resistance Protein under the Control of ς ^W , an Extracytoplasmic-Function ς Factor in <i>Bacillus subtilis</i>

Abstract

We demonstrate that the Bacillus subtilis fosB(yndN) gene encodes a fosfomycin resistance protein. Expression of fosB requires sigma(W), and both fosB and sigW mutants are fosfomycin sensitive. FosB is a metallothiol transferase related to the FosA class of Mn(2+)-dependent glutathione transferases but with a preference for Mg(2+) and L-cysteine as cofactors.