Template specificity of transcription during sporulation of Bacillus subtilis.

Partially purified extracts from sporulating Bacillussubtilis cultures transcribed different natural DNAs with different efficiencies. This template specificity results in an increased or a decreased synthetic activity with respect to extracts from vegetative cells, depending on the template used. With SPP1 DNA a decrease in activity occurs, whereas with T7 DNA an increased activity was observed, which is due to a higher efficiency of initiation. This is not an intrinsic property of RNA polymerase, but is due to some fraction(s) which can be separated from the enzyme. Together with invivo experiments on transcription and SPP1 phage production during sporulation, these results suggest a possible role of promoter recognition in sporulation.