Spo0E like sporulation regulatory protein
Spore formation is an extreme response to starvation and can also be a component of disease transmission. Sporulation is controlled by an expanded two-component system where starvation signals result in sensor kinase activation and phosphorylation of the master sporulation response regulator Spo0A. Phosphatases such as Spo0E dephosphorylate Spo0A thereby inhibiting sporulation. This is a family of Spo0E-like phosphatases. The structure of a Bacillus anthracis member of this family has revealed an anti-parallel alpha-helical structure.