EXPRESSION OF KINA AND ACCUMULATION OF SIGMA(H) AT THE ONSET OF SPORULATION IN BACILLUS-SUBTILIS

Induction of the Bacillus subtilis kinA gene, which codes for a major kinase of the phosphorelay pathway, required the spoOH gene, coding fo r the sigma(H) protein, but not the genes spoOA, spoOB, and spoOF at t he onset of sporulation. Also, the levels of sigma(H) in spoOA, spoOB, and spoOF mutants,were increased at the onset of sporulation, though induction of spoOH transcription in all of these mutants was appreciab ly inhibited. In addition, kinA expression was almost completely elimi nated in a medium supplemented with excess glucose and glutamine, even though the usual stationary-phase-associated increase in sigma(H) was observed under these conditions.