Characterization and cloning of the gerC locus of Bacillus subtilis 168

Journal of General Microbiology
M A Yazdi, A Moir

Abstract

A Bacillus subtilis gerC spore germination mutant demonstrating a temperature-sensitive response to L-alanine as germinant has been characterized in detail. The gerC58 mutation is 50% cotransformed with aroB in the gene order gerC-aroB-trpC. The mutation is responsible for a severe growth defect which is manifest at all growth temperatures and is most extreme on rich media. A second, unlinked, mutation in the original strain suppressed this growth defect, but spores of the suppressed strain failed to germinate in alanine at 42 degrees C. As this germination defect is dependent on the presence of the gerC58 allele, it is likely to be the direct result of a mutant gerC protein. The gerC gene therefore appears to have a role in both spore germination and vegetative cell growth. A gene library of BclI-digested B. subtilis chromosomal DNA was constructed in phage vector phi 105J27. A derivative containing the gerC region was obtained by complementation of the growth defect of an unsuppressed gerC58 strain. This phage contained a 6.3 kb insert of bacterial DNA, which is above the reported packaging limit of the phage. It failed to form visible plaques, although it could be handled as a prophage and sufficient phage particles be isola...Continue Reading

Citations

Sep 15, 1994·Gene·S M BirkeyF M Hulett
Sep 1, 1991·Research in Microbiology·A MoirE H Kemp
Dec 5, 2008·Acta Crystallographica. Section F, Structural Biology and Crystallization Communications·Phuong-Thuy Ho NgoLin-Woo Kang
Mar 21, 1998·Microbial Pathogenesis·A Günel-OzcanD J Maskell
Sep 1, 1993·Journal of Bacteriology·B L GellerB Hettinger-Smith

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