RT Journal Article SR Electronic(1) A1 Akanuma, Genki A1 Kazo, Yuka A1 Tagami, Kazumi A1 Hiraoka, Hirona A1 Yano, Koichi A1 Suzuki, Shota A1 Hanai, Ryo A1 Nanamiya, Hideaki A1 Kato-Yamada, Yasuyuki A1 Kawamura, FujioYR 2016 T1 Ribosome dimerization is essential for the efficient regrowth of Bacillus subtilis JF Microbiology, VO 162 IS 3 SP 448 OP 458 DO https://doi.org/10.1099/mic.0.000234 PB Microbiology Society, SN 1465-2080, AB Ribosome dimers are a translationally inactive form of ribosomes found in Escherichia coli and many other bacterial cells. In this study, we found that the 70S ribosomes of Bacillus subtilis dimerized during the early stationary phase and these dimers remained in the cytoplasm until regrowth was initiated. Ribosome dimerization during the stationary phase required the hpf gene, which encodes a homologue of the E. coli hibernation-promoting factor (Hpf). The expression of hpf was induced at an early stationary phase and its expression was observed throughout the rest of the experimental period, including the entire 6 h of the stationary phase. Ribosome dimerization followed the induction of hpf in WT cells, but the dimerization was impaired in cells harbouring a deletion in the hpf gene. Although the absence of ribosome dimerization in these Hpf-deficient cells did not affect their viability in the stationary phase, their ability to regrow from the stationary phase decreased. Thus, following the transfer of stationary-phase cells to fresh LB medium, Δhpf mutant cells grew slower than WT cells. This observed lag in growth of Δhpf cells was probably due to a delay in restoring their translational activity. During regrowth, the abundance of ribosome dimers in WT cells decreased with a concomitant increase in the abundance of 70S ribosomes and growth rate. These results suggest that the ribosome dimers, by providing 70S ribosomes to the cells, play an important role in facilitating rapid and efficient regrowth of cells under nutrient-rich conditions., UL https://www.microbiologyresearch.org/content/journal/micro/10.1099/mic.0.000234