Construction of Secretion Vectors Using the $\alpha$-amylase Signal Sequence of Bacillus subtilis NA64

Two secretion vectors, pUBA240 and pUB340 were constructed by using the promoter and secretory signal region of the .alpha.-amylase gene from an .alpha.-amylase hyperproducing strain, Bacillus subtilis NA64. In this secretion vector system, various restriction enzyme sites are located immediately after the proregion of the .alpha.-amylase gene for easy replacement of various foregn structural genes. To evaluate this secretion vectors, the .betha.-lactamase gene of pBR322 was used as a reporter gene. The expressed and biologically active .betha.-lactamase was secreted into the culture broth from B. subtilis LKS86 transformants harboring each .betha.-lactamase secreting plasmid, pUBAbla and pUBSble. In both cases, more than 92% of expressed .betha.- lactamases were located idn the culture medium. The amount of the secreted .betha.-lactamase was about 80% of the total secreted proteins in the culture medium.