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Bacillus mesentericus DNA fragments carrying promoters were cloned in Bacillus subtilis. The nucleotide sequences of four promoters, the sites of transcription initiation and the levels of promoter-mediated expression of pPL603 CAT gene at different stages of cell growth were determined. It was identified, that the two promoters (P435 and P442) are the typical sigma 43-RNA polymerase promoters. Promoter P462 possessed the unusual nucleotide sequence and induced the expression of indicator CAT gene at the middle of the stationary phase of cell growth. The next P428 promoter was found to be a complex promoter composed of three overlapping ones: P428-1, P428-2 and P428-3. P428-3 is the sigma 43-specific promoter which revealed the high degree of homology with Bacillus subtilis spoOB gene promoter. We suggest the promoters P428-1 and P428-2 to be sigma 43- and sigma 37-RNA polymerase specific, respectively.

11 fragments of Bacillus mesentericus and phage SPO1 DNA containing promoters were cloned in Bacillus subtilis. Nucleotide sequences of these fragments were determined and S1 mapping of transcriptional start points was performed. It was found that some fragments contained tandem or overlapping promoters. Nucleotide sequences of Bacillus mesentericus promoters were compared with known promoters from bacilli. Promoter activities were determined in different phases of cell growth. Nucleotide sequences of several promoters coincided with known sigma 43, sigma 29, sigma 28-promoters. Nucleotide sequences of other promoters differ greatly from those used by the known forms of Bacillus subtilis RNA polymerase. The existence of at least four other forms of bacilli RNA polymerase specific for these promoters is suggested.