Evidence for the presence of cyclic adenosine monophosphate in<i>Bacillus subtilis</i>

Abstract

Cells of B. subtilis are able to synthesize cAMP in response to oxygen limitation. Several methods were used to characterize cAMP in cell extracts. Using [3H]adenosine, cAMP synthesis could also be detected under in vivo conditions. Furthermore, activities of phosphodiesterase and adenylate cyclase were measured in extracts of B. subtilis cells and in membrane fractions. We suggest that in B. subtilis cAMP is synthesized only under special physiological conditions.