<p>This entry represents LonB, a paralog of the ATP-dependent protease La (LonA, <db_xref db="INTERPRO" dbkey="IPR004815"/>). LonB proteins are unassigned peptidases belonging to the MEROPS peptidase family S16 (lon protease family, clan SJ) and are found strictly, and almost universally, in endospore-forming bacteria. This protease was shown, in <taxon tax_id="1423">Bacillus subtilis</taxon>, to be expressed specifically in the forespore during sporulation, under control of sigmaF [<cite idref="PUB00034583"/>]. The lonB gene, despite being located immediately upstream of lonA, was shown to be monocistronic. LonB appears to be involved in the post-translation control of sigmaH, but lonB mutation did not produce an obvious sporulation defect under the conditions tested [<cite idref="PUB00034584"/>]. Note that additional paralogs of LonA and LonB occur in the Clostridium lineage and these are excluded from this entry. </p>