Differences in the regulation of exocellular proteinase synthesis during growth and sporogenesis of Bacillus megaterium

Abstract

Bacillus megaterium 27 produces one exocellular metalloproteinase during growth as well as during sporogenesis. The formation of the enzyme during growth is repressed by the addition of amino acids of the leucine–isoleucine group. Its synthesis during sporogenesis is rather insensitive to repression. The enzyme is formed during the first 90 min after transfer to a sporulation medium, amino acids delaying only the onset of its synthesis as well as the onset of sporogenesis. The synthesis of the proteinase in asporogenic B. megaterium KM1 is repressed by amino acids during growth as well as during incubation in the sporulation medium and proceeds for a longer time under the latter condition. The results suggest that the formation of the proteinase during growth may be controlled differently from that during sporulation.