THE DNAB-PHEA (256-DEGREES-240-DEGREES) REGION OF THE BACILLUS-SUBTILIS CHROMOSOME CONTAINING GENES RESPONSIBLE FOR STRESS RESPONSES, THE UTILIZATION OF PLANT-CELL WALLS AND PRIMARY METABOLISM

Within the framework of the international programme to sequence the ge nome of Bacillus subtilis strain 168, we were allocated the region bet ween dnaB (256 degrees) and pheA (240 degrees). The sequencing of this region is now complete and we report our primary analysis of the 114 kb region containing 114 ORFs. In addition to previously characterized genes, we have identified genes involved in the utilization of plant cell wall polysaccharides, stress responses and the metabolism of amin o acids, cell walls, DNA and fatty acids. We also discuss various stru ctural and physical features, including the orientation of genes with respect to replication, putative start and stop codons, ribosome bindi ng sites and rho-independent transcription terminators.