BIOSYNTHESIS OF NISIN IN THE SUBTILIN PRODUCER BACILLUS-SUBTILIS ATCC6633

Plasmids having the structural gene of nisin (nis A) combined with the subtilin or two hybrid subtilin-nisin leaders were integrated into th e subtilin operon in the chromosome of a nisin-resistant and subtilin- producing strain of B. subtilis by single crossing over. Nisin was pro duced only when the leader consisted mainly of the nisin part. This in dicates that nisin and its leader sequence might work as a couple that makes a recognizable conformation for the subtilin modification enzym es. Therefore recognition does not depend on the primary structure of the leader sequence itself.