Instability of protease production in a rel+/rel--pair of Bacillus licheniformis and associated morphological and physiological characteristics

• Published in: Antonie van Leeuwenhoek Vol. 54; no. 2; pp. 95 - 111
• Main Authors: BULTHUIS, B. A, FRANKENA, J, KONINGSTEIN, G. M, VAN VERSEVELD, H. W, STOUTHAMER, A. H
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Dordrecht Springer 01-03-1988
• Subjects: Aerobiosis; Bacillus - enzymology; Bacillus - genetics; Bacillus - physiology; Bacteriology; Biological and medical sciences; Biology of microorganisms of confirmed or potential industrial interest; Biotechnology; Escherichia coli - physiology; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Growth, nutrition, cell differenciation; Kinetics; Microbiology; Mission oriented research; Peptide Hydrolases - biosynthesis; Peptide Hydrolases - genetics; Physiology and metabolism; Plasmids; Species Specificity; Phenotype; Pleiotropy; Bacillales; Bacillus licheniformis; Enzyme; Proteinase; Inheritance; Production; Bacteria; Colony; Bacillaceae; Extracellular
• ISSN: 0003-6072; 1572-9699
• DOI: 10.1007/bf00419198

A naturally occurring relaxed/protease-producing (A-type) versus stringent/not protease-producing (B-type) pair of an industrial Bacillus licheniformis has been characterized; either of the two types can convert into the other. Both types can sporulate, grow anaerobically, grow at 56 degrees C and reduce nitrate; morphologically, they can easily be distinguished by cell- and colony-shape. They differ in the ability to use 12 substrates, as determined in API-tests. The two types are remarkably different in their content of extrachromosomal elements (A-type: 2; B-type: 4); furthermore, they differ in their rel-status (A-type: relaxed; B-type: stringent). We propose that the differences in the ability of the two types to use different substrates probably are due to integration/extrusion of the extrachromosomal elements in and out of the chromosome, distorting or restoring a number of genes, together with induction of certain catabolic genes that are under control of the rel-system.