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. 1979 May;138(2):431–441. doi: 10.1128/jb.138.2.431-441.1979

Biochemistry of L-proline-triggered germination of Bacillus megaterium spores.

D P Rossignol, J C Vary
PMCID: PMC218195  PMID: 35526

Abstract

The mechanism by which L-proline triggers germination in Bacillus megaterium QM B1551 spores was investigated. First, brief exposure of spores to L-proline, followed by dilution, was sufficient to trigger germination. Once germination was triggered, the spores continued initiation of germination and did not require high concentrations of L-proline. Triggering of germination was pH and temperature dependent. Second, enzymes for L-proline catabolism were absent in spores, and several non-metabolizable analogs of L-proline were effective trigger compounds. Third, triggering of germination occurred in the presence of inhibitors of proton motive force production, oxygen uptake, and metabolism. Fourth, uptake of L-proline occurred after the triggering of germination. These results argue that neither uptake nor metabolism of L-proline was necessary to trigger germination. Instead, L-proline probably causes a biophysical alteration in the spores that triggers the biochemical changes in germination.

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Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

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