Expression Regulatoryof Alkaiine Protease Gene in Baethus subtitis Genes degR , degC , senS , tenA , and proB Mutailts That Lack

similarity to the N-temnina] region of DcgS.i3'iIt has becn shown that DegR has its positive e{Tect threugh the stabilization of phosphorylated DegU.22} The expression of degR is subiect to regulation by thc eompetencelstress related regulatory gcne products, MeeAIMecB, and is dependent on a chemotaxis specit'ic a lactor, a.D23']S} DegQ is a srnall protein composed of 46-amino acids.i8) The expression of deg2 is regulated by the ComPComA and DegS-DegU two-component systems ana various nutrient siarvation signa]s.2i) On the basis of these phenomena and the dependence of the eMicts of DegQ ancl DegR on the DegS-DegU system, it is eonceivable that some envirDnmental