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RsfA Commitment to sporulation and engulfment (Stages II - III)

RsfA during commitment to sporulation

RsfA is a forespore-specific DNA binding protein found to modulate σ^F-dependent gene transcription. Its own expression depends on both σ^F and σ^G 108. The presence of RsfA in the forespore gives rise to a feed-forward loop enhancing or repressing the expression of some σ^F-dependent genes ¹⁰¹. In this way, the synthesis of the intercellular signalling molecule SpoIIR (for instance) is kept within a tight time frame - enhanced by σ^F but immediately repressed by RsfA.