Within the framework of an international project for the sequencing of the entire Bacillus subtilis genome, a 29 kb chromosome segment, which contains the hut operon (335") and the wapA gene, has been cloned and sequenced. This region (28954 bp) contains 21 complete ORFs and one partial one. The 5th, 6th and 17th genes correspond to hutH encoding histidase, hutP encoding the positive regulator for the hut operon and wapA encoding a precursor of three major wall-associated proteins, respectively. A homology search for their products deduced from the 21 complete ORFs revealed that nine of them exhibit significant homology to known proteins such as urocanase (Pseudomonas putida), a protein involved in clavulanic acid biosynthesis (Streptomyces griseus), amino acid permeases (lysine, Escherichia coli; histidine, Saccharomyces cerewisiae; and others), figlucoside-specif ic phosphotransferases (E. coli and Erwinia chrysanthemi) and 6-phospho-& glucosidases (E. coli and Erw. chrysanthemi). Based on the features of the determined sequence and the results of the homology search, as well as on genetic data and sequence of the hut genes reported by other groups, it is predicted that the B. subtilis hut operon may consist of the following six genes (6th-lst), the last of which is followed by a typical p-independent transcription terminator: hutP, hutH, EE57A (hutU) encoding urocanase, EE57B (hut0 encoding imidazolone-5-propionate hydrolase, EE57C (hutG) encoding formiminoglutamate hydrolase and EE57D (tentatively designated as hutM) possibly encoding histidine permease. Interestingly, the direction of transcription of these hut genes is opposite to that of the movement of the replication fork.

Within the framework of an international project for the sequencing of the entire Bacillus suibtilis genome, this paper communicates the sequencing of a chromosome region Containing the /iC and Ce/ loci (65 kb), Which Creates a 177 kb contig covering the region from gnt to sacXY. This 65 kb region contains 64 ORFs (62 complete and two partial genes). The 14th, 15th and 17th genes correspond to licT, k S and &at€, encoding the antiterminator for licS transcription, &glucanase (lichenase) and catalase 2, respectively. The 11 th, 30th, 36th, 39th, 41st 45th48th, 51st and 58th genes are designated deaD, pepT, gal€, aldY, msmX, cydABCD, sigV and katx because their products probably encode ATP-dependent RNA helicase, tripeptidase, UDP-glucose 4-epimerase, aldehyde dehydrogenase, multiple sugar-binding transport Ambinding protein, the respective components of cytochrome d ubiquinol oxidase and ATP-binding cassette transporter, a-factor of RNA polymerase and catalase, respectively. The 60th-64th genes are celRABCD, which are probably involved in cellobiose utilization. Gene organization and gene features in the gnt-sacxV region are discussed.

* Advanced Institute ofWithin the framework of an international project on the sequencing of the whole Bacillus subtilis genome, a 15 kb chromosome segment, which contains the iol operon involved in inositol utilization, has been cloned and sequenced. This region (14974 bp) contains 12 complete open reading frames (ORFs; genes) and two partial ones; the seventh gene (E83G) is the idh gene encoding inositol dehydrogenase. All the genes identified are transcribed in the same direction as that of the movement of the replication fork. A homology search for their products deduced from the 12 complete ORFs revealed that eight of them exhibit significant homology to known proteins such as fructokinase, acetolactate synthase, fructose-1,6-bisphosphate aldolase (B. subtilis), and PhoB and FtsE proteins (Escherichia coli). It also implied that two genes (B65D and B65E) might encode a set of two-component regulatory proteins and that the B65F gene might encode a protein belonging to the ATP-binding cassette (ABC) family. Based on the features of the nucleotide sequence determined and the results of the homology search, the primary structure of the iol operon is predicted.