Isolation of intergeneric hybrids between Bacillus subtilis and Zymomonas mobilis and the production of thermostable amylase by hybrids.

Stable hybrids were obtained by protoplast fusion between Bacillus subtilis and Zymomonas mobilis. All the hybrids were able to hydrolyse starch and possessed ampicillin- and tetracycline-resistant phenotypes. Two of the hybrids, BZ-1 and BZ-2, were hyperproducers of alpha-amylase. The enzyme produced by these hybrids exhibited increased thermostability. The results show that stable intergeneric gene transfer can be achieved through poly(ethylene glycol)-mediated protoplast fusion between two industrially important genera of bacteria.