yozG is needed for swarming in the undomesticated Bacillus subtilis strain NCIB 3610

Abstract

Abstract Bacillus subtilis is capable of swarming motility on semisolid surfaces. Here we characterize the swarming phenotype of a mutant in the gene of unknown function, yozG in the undomesticated strain 3610. The yozG mutant was unable to swarm. Swarming could be restored to the mutant by overexpression of the swarming regulator gene swrA or by overexpression of the flagella and chemotaxis operon. In addition, we were able to isolate two genetic suppressors of the yozG mutant that could also restore swarming. yozG is necessary for swarming in B. subtilis and likely acts upstream of the swarming regulator, SwrA.