The Minimal Genome Compendium.

To better understand cellular life, it is essential to decipher the contribution of individual components and their interactions. Minimal genomes are an important tool to investigate these interactions. Here, we provide a database of 105 fully annotated genomes of a series of strains with sequential deletion steps of the industrially relevant model bacterium starting with the laboratory wild type strain 168 and ending with PG38, which lacks approximately 40% of the original genome.

Topoisomerase IV can functionally replace all type 1A topoisomerases in Bacillus subtilis.

DNA topoisomerases play essential roles in chromosome organization and replication. Most bacteria possess multiple topoisomerases which have specialized functions in the control of DNA supercoiling or in DNA catenation/decatenation during recombination and chromosome segregation. DNA topoisomerase I is required for the relaxation of negatively supercoiled DNA behind the transcribing RNA polymerase.

Changes of DNA topology affect the global transcription landscape and allow rapid growth of a Bacillus subtilis mutant lacking carbon catabolite repression.

Bacteria are able to prioritize preferred carbon sources from complex mixtures. This is achieved by the regulatory phenomenon of carbon catabolite repression. To allow the simultaneous utilization of multiple carbon sources and to prevent the time-consuming adaptation to each individual nutrient in biotechnological applications, mutants lacking carbon catabolite repression can be used.

The contribution of bacterial genome engineering to sustainable development.

The United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals define important challenges for the prosperous development of mankind. To reach several of these goals, among them the production of value-added compounds, improved economic and ecologic balance of production processes, prevention of climate change and protection of ecosystems, the use of engineered bacteria can make valuable contributions. We discuss the strategies for genome engineering and how they can be applied to meet the United Nations' goals for sustainable development.

Hierarchical mutational events compensate for glutamate auxotrophy of a Bacillus subtilis gltC mutant.

Glutamate is the major donor of nitrogen for anabolic reactions. The Gram-positive soil bacterium Bacillus subtilis either utilizes exogenously provided glutamate or synthesizes it using the gltAB-encoded glutamate synthase (GOGAT). In the absence of glutamate, the transcription factor GltC activates expression of the GOGAT genes for glutamate production.

Large-scale reduction of the Bacillus subtilis genome: consequences for the transcriptional network, resource allocation, and metabolism.

Understanding cellular life requires a comprehensive knowledge of the essential cellular functions, the components involved, and their interactions. Minimized genomes are an important tool to gain this knowledge. We have constructed strains of the model bacterium, Bacillus subtilis, whose genomes have been reduced by ∼36%.

The Blueprint of a Minimal Cell: MiniBacillus.

Bacillus subtilis is one of the best-studied organisms. Due to the broad knowledge and annotation and the well-developed genetic system, this bacterium is an excellent starting point for genome minimization with the aim of constructing a minimal cell. We have analyzed the genome of B.

Complete Genome Sequence of Bacillus subtilis subsp. subtilis Strain ∆6.

Bacillus subtilis ∆6 is a genome-reduced strain that was cured from six prophages and AT-rich islands. This strain is of great interest for biotechnological applications. Here, we announce the full-genome sequence of this strain.

Engineering Bacillus subtilis for the conversion of the antimetabolite 4-hydroxy-l-threonine to pyridoxine.

Until now, pyridoxine (PN), the most commonly supplemented B6 vitamer for animals and humans, is chemically synthesized for commercial purposes. Thus, the development of a microbial fermentation process is of great interest for the biotech industry. Recently, we constructed a Bacillus subtilis strain that formed significant amounts of PN via a non-native deoxyxylulose 5'-phosphate-(DXP)-dependent vitamin B6 pathway.

Complete Genome Sequence of Bacillus subtilis subsp. subtilis Strain 3NA.

Bacillus subtilis 3NA reaches high cell densities during fed-batch fermentation and is an interesting target for further optimization as a production strain. Here, we announce the full genome of B. subtilis 3NA.

Bacillus subtilis and Escherichia coli essential genes and minimal cell factories after one decade of genome engineering.

Investigation of essential genes, besides contributing to understanding the fundamental principles of life, has numerous practical applications. Essential genes can be exploited as building blocks of a tightly controlled cell 'chassis'. Bacillus subtilis and Escherichia coli K-12 are both well-characterized model bacteria used as hosts for a plethora of biotechnological applications.