Effect of decoyinine on the regulation of alpha-amylase synthesis in Bacillus subtilis

Decoyinine, an inhibitor of GMP synthetase, allows sporulation in Bacillus subtilis to initiate and proceed under otherwise catabolite-repressing conditions. The effect of decoyinine on alpha-amylase synthesis in B. subtilis, an event which exhibits regulatory features resembling sporulation initiation, was examined. Decoyinine did not overcome catabolite repression of alpha-amylase synthesis in a wild-type strain of B. subtilis but did cause premature and enhanced synthesis in a mutant strain specifically blocked in catabolite repression of alpha-amylase synthesis. Decoyinine had no effect on alpha-amylase enzymatic activity. Thus, it appears that the catabolite control mechanisms governing alpha-amylase synthesis and sporulation in B. subtilis differ in their responses to decoyinine and hence must consist at least partially of separate components.