CONTRIBUTION OF GLUCOSE KINASE TO GLUCOSE REPRESSION OF XYLOSE UTILIZATION IN BACILLUS-MEGATERIUM

The glk gene from Bacillus megaterium, which encodes glucose kinase, w as isolated and analyzed. Disruption by a transcriptional glk-luxAB fu sion indicated that glk is the only glucose kinase gene in that strain but did not affect growth of that mutant on glucose. Determination of luciferase activity under various growth conditions revealed constitu tive transcription of glk. Expression of a xylA-lacZ fusion was repres sed by glucose in the strain with the glk disruption about twofold les s efficiently than in the wild type. The potential contribution of glk expression to glucose repression is discussed.