Sequence analysis of the 36-kb region between gntZ and trnY genes of Bacillus subtilis genome.

Within the framework of an international Bacillus subtilis genome sequencing project, we have determined a 36-kb sequence covering the region between the gntZ and trnY genes. In addition to five genes sequenced and characterized previously, 27 putative protein coding sequences (open reading frame; ORF) were identified. A homology search for the newly identified ORFs revealed that six of them had similarities to known proteins. It is notable that new ORFs belonging to response-regulator aspartate phosphatase (Rap) and its regulator (Phr) families, and response regulator and sensory kinase families of two-component signal transduction systems have been identified. Furthermore, we found that some 180-bp non-coding sequence, that might be an remnant of an ancient IS element, is preserved in at least five loci of the B. subtilis genome.