Sequence around the 159 degree region of the Bacillus subtilis genome: the pksX locus spans 33.6 kb

The nucleotide sequence of 20 kb contiguous to the pksX locus of Bacillus subtilis was determined. Six ORFs were recognized, one of which extended for 13,341 nucleotides. Their predicted products have significant similarities to proteins with known functions involved in the synthesis of polypeptides and polyketides or in fatty acid metabolism. At the nucleotide level, three regions with a high level of sequence identity (49-54%) to the Aspergillus nidulans wA gene, responsible for the synthesis of a polyketide pigment, were recognized. The observed similarities suggest that the 20 kb region and the previously reported 13.6 kb region containing pksX are part of the same locus, possibly involved in secondary metabolism.