ComS is crucial for competence development as it prevents proteolytic degradation of ComK, the key transcriptional activator of all genes required for the uptake and integration of DNA. This family includes members of the Bacillus comS proteins such as Swiss:P80355 [1].

1: The two putative comS homologs of the biotechnologically important Bacillus licheniformis do not contribute to competence development. Jakobs M, Hoffmann K, Liesegang H, Volland S, Meinhardt F; Appl Microbiol Biotechnol. 2015;99:2255-2266. PMID:25520171