Mapping of mutations affecting synthesis of exocellular enzymes in Bacillus subtilis

Abstract

The sacU ^h , amyB and pap mutations are identical with respect to their pleiotropic phenotype and their genetic location. Strains bearing these mutations overproduce several exocellular enzymes: α-amylase, lavansucrase and proteases, they are poorly or not at all transformable and most of them are devoid of flagella. These mutations are tightly linked to the sacU^- mutations by transformation and therefore lie between the hisA1 and gtaB290 markers. It is possible that the sacU ^h , amyB and pap mutations on one hand and the sacU^- mutations on the other are two different classes of alterations of the same regulatory gene controlling the synthesis of some exocellular enzymes and several other cellular functions. Furthermore an amy^- mutation, leading to the lack of α-amylase activity, was mapped between the lin2 and aroI906 markers which are not linked to the sacU locus.