FIG. 6.
Early expression of wild-type spoIIIG and spoIIIGE156K genes in the prespore. Expression of sspE-lacZ was monitored during sporulation in B. subtilis strains AH3786 (ΔspoIIIG sspE-lacZ amyE::spoIIIG) (wild-type spoIIIG in a wild-type background) (closed circles), AH3787 (ΔspoIIIG sspE-lacZ ΔamyE::spoIIIGE156K) (open circles), AH3788 (ΔspoIIIG sspE-lacZ PspoIIQ-spoIIIG) (wt) (open squares), and AH3789 (ΔspoIIIG sspE-lacZ PspoIIQ-spoIIIGE156K) (closed squares). The complete relevant genotypes of strains are given in Table 1. Strains were grown in DSM, and samples were taken at the indicated times (in hours) after the onset of sporulation (T0) and assayed for β-galactosidase activity. The endogenous levels of β-galactosidase activity were determined in the wild-type strain MB24 (closed triangles). β-Galactosidase activity is given in Miller units (see Materials and Methods).