Hybridization analysis of restriction endonuclease DNA fragments of Bacillus cereus transcribed during spore outgrowth

Abstract

Transcribing Bacillus cereus DNA was visualized by means of autoradiography of electrophoretically separated EcoRI restriction endonuclease DNA fragments hybridizing 32P-labeled RNA. Hybridization of RNA of dormant spores, vegetative cells, and outgrowing spores indicates the following. (i) A large fraction of the nonribosomal RNA in dormant spores is transcribed at a limited number of regions on the bacterial chromosome. (ii) After induction of spore germination, transcription activity is not limited to a single short region on the chromosome, but rather is distributed along the chromosome. The DNA/RNA hybridization technique has been used to identify restriction endonuclease DNA fragments homologous to RNA species that are present in dormant spores but absent from vegetative cells, RNA species that are synthesized immediately after germination induction and are present at a relatively low concentration in vegetative cells, and RNA species that are transcribed at a late stage of outgrowth but are absent or present at low concentration at an early stage of outgrowth.