Identification and characterization of a novel class of extracellular poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) depolymerase from Bacillus sp. strain NRRL B-14911.

The catalytic, linker, and denatured poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) (dPHB)-binding domains of bacterial extracellular PHB depolymerases (PhaZs) are classified into several different types. We now report a novel class of extracellular PHB depolymerase from Bacillus sp. strain NRRL B-14911.

Genetic evidence for involvement of the alternative sigma factor SigI in controlling expression of the cell wall hydrolase gene lytE and contribution of LytE to heat survival of Bacillus subtilis.

The Bacillus subtilis cell wall hydrolase LytE is involved in cell wall turnover and cell separation during vegetative growth. lytE transcription is known to be driven by a YycF-activated SigA-dependent promoter. The cell wall regulator SigI is an alternative sigma factor that has been shown to be heat stress-inducible and to be essential for survival of B.