Expression of the subtilisin Carlsberg-encoding gene in Bacillus licheniformis and Bacillus subtilis

The cloning and sequence of the 5' untranslated region (5'-UTR) of the Bacillus licheniformis (Bl) 6816 subtilisin Carlsberg gene (subC) are reported here. The 5' and 3' ends of subC transcripts were characterized, and the promoter identified. Expression was studied using a fused lacZ reporter gene integrated into the chromosome of heterologous host Bacillus subtilis (Bs). beta Gal activities of mutants deleted within the promoter region identified a region which is required for stimulation by the transcriptional activator proteins, DegU and DegQ. This region is close to the transcription start point (tsp), and is adjacent to a sequence homologous to that involved in DegU/Q stimulation of the Bs subtilisin gene, aprE. Expression of subC in Bs was optimized by the use of heterologous promoter and by the deletion of UTR sequences predicted to be involved in secondary structures in the native subC mRNA. Sequence comparison with other subtilisin Carlsberg-type-encoding genes revealed a high degree of conservation of the entire 5'-UTR, including regulatory sequences and promoter, as well as part of the structural gene.