Molecular cloning of a Bacillus subtilis gene involved in cell division, sporulation, and exoenzyme secretion

Abstract

The wild type div-341⁺ gene of Bacillus subtilis was cloned in a temperate phage ρ11, and was recloned in a smaller temperate phage φ105. The resulting Div⁺ transducing phage carried a 3 kilobase Cfr13I digested chromosomal fragment which showed Div⁺ transforming activity and contained the whole div-341⁺ gene which is involved in cell division, sporulation, exoenzyme secretion, competent cell formation, and autolysis. A partial restriction map of the fragment was established. The merodiploid system of the div-341⁺ gene, wild type gene on the phage genome and mutant gene on the chromosome, resulted in the suppression of mutant phenotypes and indicated that the wild type div-341⁺ gene is dominant over mutant gene.