The spoOA and degU genes of Bacillus subtilis show genetic homology

Abstract The transformation efficiency of competent Bacillus subtilis degU32 (Hy) strains was found to depend on the marker that was selected. Protrophic transformants were obtained at frequencies similar to those in the wild type control, but Spo^? transformants oere rare also when a spoOA::erm insertion that produces a selectable marker (Erm^R) was used. The Erm^R transformants obtained within the degU32 (Hy) background were Spo⁺ and had lost the characteristics of the DegU(Hy) parental recipient strain i.e., secretion of exo-enzymes and sporulation resistance to catabolites. The spoOA::erm insertion was mapped to a location near degU . The similarities between the spoOA and degU sequences and the metabolic interferences between the mutated products which result in this unexpected recombination, are discussed.