Mutations in the glycerol kinase gene restore the ability of a ptsGHI mutant of Bacillus subtilis to grow on glycerol.

Although glycerol is not taken up via the phosphotransferase system (PTS) in Bacillus subtilis, some mutations that affect the general components of the PTS impair the ability of cells to grow on glycerol. Five revertants of a pts deletion mutant that grow on glycerol were analysed. They were shown to carry mutations in the glycerol kinase gene.