Complete Sequence of the first chimera genome constructed via cloning of a whole genome from Synechocystis PCC6803 into the Bacillus subtilis 168 genome.. Bacillus subtilis BEST7613

The method to connect small DNA segments in the Bacillus subtilis, originally termed as megacloning, enabled to combine a whole genome from Synechocystis PCC6803 with B. subtilis genome. As sequence-known DNA is the least requirement for the method, among dozens of sequence-known bacteria available in 1997 when the project started, the Synechocystis PCC6803 strain was indeed the only choice in terms of non-pathogenic, safe and sound bacterium. The chimera genome strain BEST7613 has raised a number of issues previously poorly argued. Growth in a media suited for Synechocystis, complete synthetic media for photosynthesis with no carbon sources has not been achieved yet and therefore cultivated in B. subtilis growth media all the time. Given gene expressions from the Synehocystis genome expressed properly and coordinately, conversion of cellular gene regulatory networks from that of B. subtilis to the other partner is expected. A number of factors and components, including the cellular membrane structure inside and outside, cell wall, and metabolic state have to be converted from B. subtilis in response to changes in the culture medium remained to be examined. To obtain any clues, sequence information of BEST7613 and its precursor B. subtilis strain, BEST7003 was also sequenced.