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Isolation of an Alanine Racemase Gene from Bacillus subtilis and its Use for Plasmid Maintenance in B. subtilis

Bio/Technology volume 3, pages 1003–1007 (1985)Cite this article

Abstract

The ability to synthesize D-alanine is essential for the biosynthesis of cell walls of most bacteria. D-alanine is normally produced by racemization of L-alanine; in the absence of a functional alanine racemase, D-alanine must be provided for cell growth. An alanine racemase gene has been isolated from Bacillus subtilis. When this gene is placed on a multicopy plasmid in B. subtilis it can complement a chromosomal deletion of the alanine racemase gene. The presence of the alanine racemase gene on a plasmid provides strong selective pressure for maintenance of the plasmid in a strain lacking a functional alanine racemase. This selective pressure can be used instead of antibiotics to maintain plasmids in B. subtilis.

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Author notes

  1. Eugenio Ferrari

    Present address: Genencor, Inc., 180 Kimball Way, South San Francisco, California, 94080

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Cell Genetics, Genentech, Inc., 460 Point San Bruno Boulevard, South San Francisco, California, 94080

    Dennis J. Henner & Maria Y. Yang

Authors
  1. Eugenio Ferrari
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  2. Dennis J. Henner
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  3. Maria Y. Yang
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Ferrari, E., Henner, D. & Yang, M. Isolation of an Alanine Racemase Gene from Bacillus subtilis and its Use for Plasmid Maintenance in B. subtilis. Nat Biotechnol 3, 1003–1007 (1985). https://doi.org/10.1038/nbt1185-1003

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/nbt1185-1003

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