Relationship between sporulation and synthesis of mycobacillin and dipicolinic acid under condition of catabolite repression in Bacillus subtilis.

Sporulation was repressed in the parent strain by various carbon sources whereas glucose-resistant mutants were resistant to them but not to glycerol 2-phosphate. Both mycobacillin and dipicolinic acid synthesis were repressed in the parent by some of the compounds tested, viz. glucose, pyruvate and glycerol 2-phosphate. However, these syntheses in the glucose-resistant mutants were not repressed by glucose and pyruvate but were repressed by glycerol 2-phosphate. The possible interrelationship between sporulation, dipicolinic acid and mycobacillin synthesis is discussed in light of these findings.