Nucleotide sequence and analysis of the phoB-rrnE-groESL region of the Bacillus subtilis chromosome

A 36 kb sequence of the phoB-rrnE-groESL region of the Bacillus subtilis chromosome at around 55 degrees has been determined. The sequenced region contains 36 ORFs including the phoB and groESL genes, and the whole rrnE operon. The phoB gene is transcribed in the direction opposite to that of chromosome replication, while most ORFs, including groESL and the rrnE operon, are transcribed in the same direction. Two newly identified tRNA genes upstream of the rrnE operon were those for Arg-tRNA and Gly-tRNA. The sequenced region contains an operon consisting of genes for degradation and uptake of mannan. The rrnE operon and its downstream ORFs are well conserved among Mycoplasma genitalium, Haemophilus influenzae, Synechocystis so. and Methanococcus jannaschii. sigma(H) consensus sequences are present in the promoter regions of three ORFs, including groESL.