S1a), as described under ‘Materials and methods’. Topology models predicted that the N-terminal end of B. subtilis Chr3N was located in the periplasm, just about 12 residues Crenolanib chemical structure distal of TMS1 (Fig. S1b). Fusions were not constructed in this short hydrophilic region because Chr3N-PhoA recombinant proteins would remain in the cytoplasm by lacking a TMS that might translocate PhoA to the periplasm. The shortest Chr3N fusion, made in residue Gly24 (predicted to reside within TMS1, close to the cytoplasm), yielded high LacZ activity and no significant PhoA activity (Fig. 1a). Thus, the presence of TMS1 could not be clearly demonstrated, and we rely on the prediction of the topology models

to suggest that the N-terminal end of Chr3N is located in the periplasmic space (Fig. S1b). Fusions located in amino acids Asn37, Ile50, and Lys74 showed LacZ activity and null PhoA activity (Fig. 1a), indicating that this

region is situated in the cytoplasm; this location is in agreement with prediction models (Fig. S1b), which showed large hydrophilic (cytoplasmic) regions between residues 50 and 90. Fusions at residues His106, Leu137, Ile161, and Ser189 yielded alternating high and low PhoA activities (Fig. 1a), indicating that these regions have corresponding alternate periplasmic and cytoplasmic locations; this location was confirmed by the selleck products fact that these four fusions also yielded alternating low and high LacZ activities (Fig. 1a). The topology at this region, which spans the last four TMSs of Chr3N, is in complete agreement with prediction models (Fig. S1b). Together, these results suggested a topology of five TMSs for Chr3N, with the N-terminal end in the periplasm and the C-terminal end in the cytoplasm (Fig. 1b). Topology

models predicted that the N-terminal end of B. subtilis Chr3C was located in the cytoplasm (Fig. S1b). Accordingly, fusions located in amino acids Tyr36 and Met47 showed both high PhoA activity and low LacZ activity (Fig. 1c), indicating that this region was situated in the periplasm; a TMS should be present distal of Tyr36 to allow for this region to be translocated to the periplasm and to yield PhoA enzyme activity. These data confirmed that the N-terminal of Chr3C is located Chloroambucil in the cytoplasm. Topology models predicted a large hydrophilic (periplasmic) Chr3C region spanning residues 50 through 90 (Fig. S1b). However, fusions at Val66 and Ala70 displayed unexpectedly low and null PhoA activity, respectively (Fig. 1c); the Ala70 fusion showed low LacZ activity, indicating that it was not at the cytoplasm. As fusion at Gly109 showed significant LacZ activity, a TMS must be present between residues 70 and 109, as predicted (Fig. S1b); this means that the 66–70 upstream region must be located in the periplasm.