Nucleotide sequences that signal the initiation of transcription and translation inBacillus subtilis

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Abstract
Summary We have determined the nucleotide sequence of twoBacillus subtilis promoters (veg andtms) that are utilized by the principal form ofB. subtilis RNA polymerase found in vegetative cells (σ55-RNA polymerase) and have compared our sequences to those of several previously reportedBacillus promoters. Hexanucleotide sequences centered approximately 35 (the “-35” region) and 10 (the “-10” region) base pairs upstream from theveg andtms transcription startpoints (and separated by 17 base pairs) corresponded closely to the consensus hexanucleotides (TTGACA and TATAAT) attributed toEscherichia coli promoters. Conformity to the preferred -35 and -10 sequences may not be sufficient to promote efficient utilization byB. subtilis RNA polymerase, however, since three promoters (veg, tms andE. coli tac) that conform to these sequences and that are utilized efficiently byE. coli RNA polymerase were used with highly varied efficiencies byB. subtilis RNA polymerase. We have also analyzed mRNA sequences in DNA located downstream from eightB. subtilis chromosomal and phage promoters for nucleotide sequences that might signal the initiation of translation. In accordance with the rules of McLaughlin, Murray and Rabinowitz (1981), we observe mRNA nucleotide sequences with extensive complementarity to the 3′ terminal region ofB. subtilis 16S rRNA, followed by an initiation codon and an open reading frame.