Increasing the stability of sacB transcript improves levansucrase production in Bacillus subtilis.

AIMS To develop a strategy to increase the stability of transcripts of structural genes expressed under the control of sacR, the leader region of Bacillus subtilis levansucrase gene. METHODS AND RESULTS Insertion of Shine Dalgarno like sequences in the 5'-untranslated sacR region controlling the expression of sacB. Depending on the number of stabilizing sequences inserted and the position of these sequences with respect to the translation start codon, it was observed that the mRNA stability and the final protein production could be increased or decreased. CONCLUSIONS This mRNA stabilization can be used to increase exocellular protein production in the degU32 (Hy) mutant. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY This approach can be applied to the expression of heterologous genes of biotechnological interest.