Patent ID: 6350587
Filing Date: 2002-02-26
Classification: C07K,C12N,C12Q,C12R

Abstract:
A method of determining whether an agent inhibits SpoOJ function in Bacillus species, which method comprisesproviding a Bacillus strain having a functional SpoOJ gene and having a chromosome with the following modifications; a) a mutation of a spoIIIE gene which blocks transfer of the prespore chromosome, b) a mutation of soj which prevents loss of SpoOJ function from blocking sporulation, together with c) a first reporter gene having a promoter which is dependent on &sgr;F factor and placed at a location on said chromosome where impaired SpoOJ function leads to increased trapping of said first reporter gene and hence to increased expression thereof in the prespore, and/or d) a second reporter gene having a promoter which is dependent on &sgr;F factor and placed at a location on said chromosome where impaired SpoOJ function leads to reduced trapping of said second reporter gene and hence to reduced expression thereof in the prespore, inducing said Bacillus strain to divide asymmetrically, as during sporulation, in the presence of the agent, and observing expression of the first and/or the second reporter gene.