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 [1].

1: Structural Characterization of Spo0E-like Protein-aspartic Acid Phosphatases That Regulate Sporulation in Bacilli. Grenha R, Rzechorzek NJ, Brannigan JA, de Jong RN, Ab E, Diercks T, Truffault V, Ladds JC, Fogg MJ, Bongiorni C, Perego M, Kaptein R, Wilson KS, Folkers GE, Wilkinson AJ; J Biol Chem. 2006;281:37993-38003. PMID:17001075