[Regularities in the synthesis of neutral protease from Bacillus subtilis]

Experiments were carried out to study the formation of extracellular protease by the suspension from Bacillus subtilis str. 103 washed cells selected at the growth stages characterized by the highest rate of the enzyme synthesis (after 12 and 35 hours). In relation to the protein and RNA synthesis as measured by 14C-valine and 14C-uracyl the cells of that age showed a high metabolic activity. The enzyme synthesis by the cells of the log-phase was inhibited completely with chloramphenicol and by the cells of the stationary phase--almost completely. The experiments demonstrated the protease synthesis insensitive to riphampycin for a long time. This may be indicative of a certain pool of long-lived mRNA responsible for the biosynthesis.