All known gerF mutations affecting Bacillus subtilis spore germination
have been mapped, by a combination of recombination and complementati
on analysis, to yvoC (Igt), a gene belonging to the yvoB (ptsK) yvoC (
Igt) yvoDEF operon. Examination of the properties of null mutants conf
irmed that the only gene in the operon that affects germination is yvo
C, which encodes a homologue of known prelipoprotein diacylglyceryl tr
ansferases. As several germination proteins (GerAC. GerBC. CerKC. GerD
) are predicted lipoproteins, it is not unreasonable to assume that a
defect in prelipoprotein processing will affect spore germination. Two
other null mutants in this chromosomal region showed a clear phenotyp
e:the nagA gene is required for growth on N-acetylglucosamine, whereas
a null mutation in yvoB (ptsK) affects colony formation from single c
ells.