Critical roles of spo0A and spo0H in vegetative alkaline phosphatase production in Bacillus subtilis.

Growth conditions established to optimize vegetative alkaline phosphatase production and stability in Bacillus subtilis were used to compare alkaline phosphatase synthesis and secretion in isogenic strains JH646 (spo0A12) and JH646MS (spo0A12 abrB15). A mutation in spo0A blocked vegetative alkaline phosphatase production, and a second mutation at the abrB locus resulted in hyperinduction of vegetative alkaline phosphatase. Phosphate regulation of vegetative alkaline phosphatase synthesis was unaffected in the double mutant. spo0H, on a multicopy plasmid, partially overcame the spo0A effect.