Alteration of the Bacillus subtilis glutamine synthetase results in overproduction of the enzyme

Abstract

A mutational leading to glutamine auxotrophy was located near a 5-fluorouracil resistance marker in the citB-thyA region of the Bacillus subtilis chromosome. This mutation resulted in a glutamine synthetase with altered kinetic and feedback properties. The specific activity of manganese-stimulated glutamine synthetase activity in crude extracts was 18-fold higher, and the magnesium-stimulated activity was about 30% that of the wild type. Quantitation of the enzyme by precipitation with antibody prepared against pure enzyme confirmed the presence of high enzyme levels in the mutant. This mutation is very closely linked (recombination index of 0.03) to another glutamine auxotroph containing enzyme with altered electrophoretic and heat sensitivity properties. Mutations in the structural gene for glutamine synthetase may result not only in altered catalytic and regulatory properties but also in altered production of the enzyme.