SEQUENCING AND FUNCTIONAL-ANALYSIS OF THE GENOME OF BACILLUS-SUBTILISSTRAIN-168

The international programme to sequence the 4.2 Mb genome of Bacillus subtilis, a model Gram-positive bacterium, is a joint project involvin g European, Japanese and US research groups. To date ca, 3.0 Mb of the genome has been sequenced, with the remaining 1.2 Mb expected to be c ompleted in 1997. The amenability of B. subtilis to genetic manipulati on, combined with the availability of extensive expertise on its bioch emistry and physiology, makes this bacterium a valuable organism in wh ich to investigate the properties of genes for which functions cannot be readily ascribed by standard methods.