Physiological suppression of Bacillus subtilis conditioned sporulation phenotypes: RNA polymerase and ribosomal mutations.

The temperature-sensitive sporulation phenotype (Spots) of Bacillus subtilis RNA polymerase, ribosomal and protein synthesis elongation factor G mutations can be corrected by supplementing the growth medium with carbohydrates such as ribose or glycerol, or with synthetic lipids such as Tween 40. The data suggest that these mutations affect a single common aspect of developmental cell function. It is proposed that these lesions prevent sporulation by disturbing the regulation of sporulating cell metabolic balance.