AMPLIFICATION OF THE BACILLUS-SUBTILIS-MAF GENE RESULTS IN ARRESTED SEPTUM FORMATION

The Bacillus subtilis homolog of the Escherichia coli morphogene orfE (of the mre operon) has been identified. The determinant is located on the chromosome immediately upstream of the mreBCD-minCD (divIVB) oper on. The Maf protein shares substantial amino acid sequence identity wi th the E. coli OrfE protein. Introduction of the B. subtilis maf deter minant on a multicopy plasmid into B. subtilis cells results in an inh ibition of septation, which leads to extensive filamentation and loss of viability in the transformed cell population. Insertional inactivat ion of maf indicated that this gene is not essential for cell division .