Systematic sequencing of the Bacillus subtilis genome: progress report of the Japanese group.

We have undertaken the systematic sequencing of the BacilZzls szlbtilis genome as part of an international cooperative project between the European Community and Japan. The Japanese Human Genome Program was officially initiated in 1991 supported by a research grant from Monbusho (The Ministry of Education, Science and Culture of Japan). The program comprises three projects : (1) genetic and physical mapping of the human genome; (2) systematic analysis of human cDNA; and (3) development of analytical methods. The B. szlbtilis project was included in the third project as a model system for a large sequencing project. Six groups are now actively engaged in sequencing, and Tanaka’s group, who has constructed a physical map of the B. mbtjlis genome (Itaya & Tanaka, 1991), is engaged in the development of new tools for genome manipulation. Some papers that resulted from the project have already been published (Miyao e t al., 1992; Fuma e t al., 1993; Ogasawara e t al., 1994; Nakane etal., 1994; Yoshida etal., 1994); others appear in this issue (Ogawa e t al., 1995; Fujishima & Yamane, 1995; Yoshida e t al., 1995; Takemaru e t al., 1995).