THE EXPRESSION OF THE BSTVIM GENE FROM BACILLUS-STEAROTHERMOPHILUS-V IS RESTRICTED TO VEGETATIVE CELL-GROWTH

The activity of BstVI DNA methyltransferase was monitored during the s porulative cycle of Bacillus stearothermophilus V. Significant methyla se activity was found only in bacteria growing vegetatively. This was confirmed by Northern hybridization, which indicated that the bstVIM g ene was not transcribed in cells undergoing sporulation. Supporting ev idence came from experiments which demonstrated that the RNA polymeras e holoenzyme from these cells did not recognize the promoter elements upstream of the bstVIM gene.