Phenotypic and Genetic Characterization of Mutations in the spoIVC Locus of Bacillus subtilis

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Abstract
The spoIVC locus of Bacillus subtilus was analysed. Fourteen spoIVC mutants isolated following nitrosoguanidine mutagenesis were used along with two previously characterized spoIVC mutants to construct a fine structure genetic map of the locus. The recombination index (RI) measured between extreme mutations was 0.26; no recombination could be detected between four of the mutations. Complementation analysis showed that all the mutations fall into two cistrons. The RI between extreme mutations in cistron A was about 0.17 and that between extreme mutations in cistron B was about 0.05. In respect of biochemical markers, the spoIVC mutations all produced similar phenotypes, irrespective of their location. However, in both cistrons oligosporogenous and asporogenous mutations mapped close together.