Genetic control of the rate of α amylase synthesis in Bacillus subtilis

Abstract

The level of extracellular α amylase (EC 3.2.1.1) of Bacillus subtilis Marburg was increased about fivefold by introducing the amyR marker from B. natto 1212 through transformation. amyR2 of B. natto 1212 was assumed to determine a high level of α amylase of the organism. The gene acts specifically on α amylase synthesis but not on the production of other extracellular enzymes. α Amylase of an amyR2 carrying strain was found to be similar to that of an isogenic amyR1 carrying strain in the thermostability and electrophoretic behavior of whichever amylase the strain produces, Marburg type α amylase (amyEm) or B. natto α amylase (amyEn). Anti amylase serum titration indicates that a high level of the enzyme activity in the amyR2 carrying strain is caused by the existence of more enzyme rather than the presence of an enzyme having higher efficiency. This is supported by the fact that amyR controls the synthesis of the amyE gene product in mutant M9, which synthesizes a temperature sensitive α amylase, and in mutant M07, which secretes cross reacting material. The results indicate that amyR regulates the rate of α amylase synthesis.