InterPro domain: IPR036065

This superfamily consist of the morpho-protein BolA from Escherichia coli and its various homologues. In E. coli, over-expression of this protein causes round morphology and may be involved in switching the cell between elongation and septation systems during cell division [ 1 ]. The expression of BolA is growth rate regulated and is induced during the transition into the the stationary phase [ 2 ]. BolA is also induced by stress during early stages of growth [ 2 ] and may have a general role in stress response. It has also been suggested that BolA can induce the transcription of penicillin binding proteins 6 and 5 [ 2 , 3 ]. IbaG is a BolA homologue involved in acid resistance [ 3 ].

The structure of the BoIA protein has an alpha-beta(2)-(alpha)-beta fold divided into two layers (alpha/beta).

1. The stationary-phase morphogene bolA from Escherichia coli is induced by stress during early stages of growth. Mol. Microbiol. 32, 789-98
2. Induction of a growth-phase-dependent promoter triggers transcription of bolA, an Escherichia coli morphogene. EMBO J. 8, 3923-31
3. Characterization of the BolA homolog IbaG: a new gene involved in acid resistance. J. Microbiol. Biotechnol. 22, 484-93