MrpC –dependent regulation of c-di-GMP-related genes during Myxococcus xanthus development

Myxococcus xanthus is a model organism for studying social behaviors in bacteria. We focus on regulation of development in M. xanthus by c-di-GMP. Bioinformatic analysis revealed 17 GGDEF domain diguanylate cyclases (DGCs), two EAL- and five HD-GYP-domain phosphodiesterases (PDEs), 24 genes for PilZ-domain proteins in the M. xanthus genome. Some of them are assumed to be regulated by CRP-like transcriptional factor MrpC - master regulator of development. Two genes dmxB (DGC) and pmxA (PDE) were found to be exclusively important for development. We will report on the regulatory mechanism leading to activation of dmxB & pmxA expression during development as well as on downstream processes potentially regulated by pmxA.