NUCLEOTIDE SEQUENCE AND CONTROL OF THE GLUCOSE DEHYDROGENASE OPERON

gdh操纵子含有葡萄糖脱氢酶基因， 在枯草芽孢杆菌中进行发育控制。 操纵子被激活 仅在孢子形成期间且仅在前孢子隔室中。 使用 β-半乳糖苷酶作为报告基因，我们已经调查了 GDH操纵子的发育控制。 使用删除和定点 突变，我们已经确定了从-10到-35碱基对的区域， 作为控制转录起始的位点， 转录。 通过体内和体外比较，我们已经表明， 孢子形成特异性σ因子，仅在前孢子内产生 并与RNA聚合酶结合， 转录。 其他研究表明，gdh操纵子不是 在正常条件下孢子形成或发芽所需的。 然而，在这方面， 很可能发芽可以使用替代途径， 涉及操纵子。

The gdh operon, which contains the gene for glucose dehydrogenase, is developmentally controlled in Bacillus subtilis. The operon is turned on only during sporulation and only in the forespore compartment. Using beta-galactosidase as a reporter gene, we have investigated the developmental control of the gdh operon. Using deletions and site-directed mutations, we have identified the area from -10 to -35 base pairs from the start of transcription as the site which controls the onset of transcription. By in vivo and in vitro comparisons we have shown that a sporulation-specific sigma factor , which is made only inside the forespore and combines there with RNA polymerase, controls the onset of transcription. Other studies have shown that the gdh operon is not required for sporulation or germination under normal conditions. However, it is likely that germination can use alternate pathways one of which involves the operon.