This family consists of the DegQ (formerly sacQ) regulatory peptides. The DegQ family of peptides control the rates of synthesis of a class of both secreted and intracellular degradative enzymes in Bacillus subtilis. DegQ is 46 amino acids long and activates the synthesis of degradative enzymes. The expression of this peptide was shown to be subjected both to catabolite repression and DegS-DegU-mediated control. Thus allowing an increase in the rate of synthesis of degQ under conditions of nitrogen starvation [1].

1: Signal transduction pathway controlling synthesis of a class of degradative enzymes in Bacillus subtilis: expression of the regulatory genes and analysis of mutations in degS and degU. Msadek T, Kunst F, Henner D, Klier A, Rapoport G, Dedonder R; J Bacteriol 1990;172:824-834. PMID:1688843