When analyzing trends over the time course for the differentially transcribed genes, those of the acarbose biosynthetic gene cluster were particularly striking. As shown above, the temporal transcription dynamics of the acb genes (Fig. 7b) seem to be highly similar to the specific acarbose formation rate (Fig. 1b). Especially the genes acbZ, acbB and acbA follow the course of acarbose formation rate with an increase during the first 48 h and continuous decrease afterwards. This trend was observed for all further acb genes as well, but less strong.