Cloning and characterization of a Bacillus subtilis transcription unit involved in ATP-dependent DNase synthesis.

By insertional mutagenesis, 36 transformation-deficient, mitomycin C-sensitive Bacillus subtilis mutants were isolated, 16 of which were ATP-dependent DNase (ADD) deficient. PBS1 transduction showed that the mutations were closely linked to the metD marker and weakly linked to the glyB marker. With the aid of one of the mutants, a transcription unit involved in ADD synthesis was cloned. The chromosomal location of the transcription unit was established at the restriction site level by determining the presence or absence of ADD in transformants of wild-type cells obtained with various DNA fragments inserted in pUC derivatives. The transcription unit complemented a mutant in which the add transcription unit had been deleted.