Transcriptome and Proteome Analysis of Bacillus subtilis Gene Expression Modulated by Amino Acid Availability

A comprehensive study of Bacillus subtilis gene expression patterns in response to amino acid availability was performed by means of proteomics and transcriptomics. The methods of two-dimensional protein gel electrophoresis and DNA macroarray technology were combined to analyze cells exponentially grown in minimal medium with and without 0.2% Casamino Acids (CAA). This approach revealed about 120 genes predominantly involved in amino acid biosynthesis, sporulation, and competence, which were downregulated in CAA-containing medium. Determination of sporulation frequencies confirmed the physiological relevance of the expression data.