Work in our laboratory focuses on the control of gene expression during bacterial differentiation. One focus of our laboratory is to elucidate the mechanisms that regulate sigma factor function in sporulation of Bacillus subtilis. We are currently testing the model in which SpoOA, when bound to promoter DNA, interacts directly with the RNA polymerase sigma subunit. We are also studying an example of regulation of _G expression by a morphological cue. We are also attempting to elucidate the mechanisms that regulate the utilization of spore coat proteins.

[moran@microbio.emory.edu]