In a strain carrying capB-lacZ fusion of Bacillus subtilis IFO16449, which produces a large amount of gamma-polyglutamic acid (PGA), P-galactosidase activity was enhanced by about five times with the addition of L-glutamic acid. This increase was also confirmed by Northern blot analysis. On the other hand, the activity was not detected in a strain carrying capB-lacZ fusion of B. subtilis Marburg 168. However, when the cap genes (capBCA and ywtC) were fused to the IPTG-inducible spac promoter, B. subtilis Marburg 168 produced PGA. These results suggest that the inability of B. subtilis Marburg 168 to produce PGA is due to defective expression of the cap genes.