The genome of Bacillus subtilis phage SPP1: structure of an early promoter.

The strongest of five ‘early’ promoters of Bacillus subtilis phage SPP1 was localized in a DNA restriction fragment by analysis of RNA polymerase binding and R-loop formation. The nucleotide sequence of the promoter region was established. The signal structures identified were similar to those recognized by the σ55 RNA polymerase of B. subtilis. The promoter precedes an open reading frame with 51 codons. A protein with the M r predicted from the nucleotide sequence was identified in minicells.