The beta-glucanase gene from Bacillus amyloliquefaciens shows extensive homology with that of Bacillus subtilis.

The nucleotide sequence of a 1583-bp DNA fragment containing gene bg1A for endo-beta-1,3-1,4-glucanase (EC 3.2.1.73) of Bacillus amyloliquefaciens strain BE20/78, a high producer of secreted enzymes, has been determined. The gene bg1A comprises an open reading frame (ORF) of 717 bp (= 239 codons) starting with ATG at 469 up to the translation stop codon TAA at 1188. Upstream from the translation initiation codon ATG, the ribosome-binding sequence 5'-AAAAAAGGGGG-3' and two putative bglA promoters have been identified. A box of eleven AT out of twelve base pairs (bp) precedes the -35 region of promoter P1. Beyond the translation stop codon UAA, a sequence of 69 bp can be folded into a hook-like stem-loop structure which probably functions as a transcriptional terminator. The ORF region of the gene bglA reveals about 90% homology with another beta-glucanase gene, bglS of Bacillus subtilis C120 sequenced by Murphy et al. (1984). Three regions of frequent amino acid (aa) changes are indicated. However, the major difference between these is a set of deletions within the non-coding region separating the bglA gene from an unknown preceding ORF and by one deletion shortening the proposed signal peptide by three aa (Pro-Tyr-Leu-). The putative transcription terminator of gene bglA completely lacks homology with a B. subtilis bglS gene. The signification of deletions erasing the 'sacR-homology region' in B. amyloliquefaciens, which have been detected in proximity of the beta-glucanase gene of B. subtilis by Steinmetz and Aymerich (1986), is discussed.