Genetics and Biochemistry of Sporulation in Endospore-Forming Bacteria (Bacillus): A Prime Example of Developmental Biology

The development of spores represents one of the main morphogenetic processes in spore-forming bacterial groups, involving more than 150 genes and a variety of sigma factors. These factors control not only the transcription of sporulation-specific operons, involved in spore formation and maturation, but also the manufacture of a variety of products, including important antibiotics, traditionally linked to secondary metabolism. The present chapter encompasses a detailed description of the genes involved in the bacterial sporulation process, their location in the chromosome of Bacillus subtilis, and a description of the main antibiotics produced by different Bacillus species. It also includes a review of alternative bacterial secondary metabolites, such as lanthipeptides, parasporal crystals, and toxins.