IMPAIRED CELL-DIVISION AND SPORULATION OF A BACILLUS-SUBTILIS STRAIN WITH THE FTSA GENE DELETED

The ftsZ and ftsA genes of Bacillus subtilis are organized in a simple operon expressed from promoter sequences immediately upstream of ftsA . The promoter-distal ftsZ gene is an essential septation gene. In thi s report, it is shown that the promoter-proximal ftsA gene can be dele ted in a previously constructed strain in which the essential gene, ft sZ, is under the control of the inducible spac promoter. Absence of th e ftsA gene product resulted in a very filamentous morphology indicati ng an important role for ftsA in cell division. Also, growth was sever ely impaired, and viability and sporulation were reduced. The defectiv e sporulation phenotype correlated with a deficiency in the processing of pro-sigma(E) to its active form.