Role and expression of the Bacillus subtilis rodC operon.

The role of the rodC operon in Bacillus subtilis was investigated. The operon encodes two genes (rodD and rodC) necessary for the synthesis of the cell wall teichoic acid. Transcription of this operon is responsive to levels of phosphate and to concentrations of magnesium ions in the growth medium. This regulation of mRNA production corresponds to conditions that dictate the type of polymer that will be synthesized for the cell wall, i.e., teichoic or teichuronic acid. While the introduction of multiple copies of rodC was tolerated by the cells, multiple copies of rodD appeared to be lethal. The lethality of the rodD fragment was not exhibited if multiple copies of rodC were also present.