Skip to main content
PMC home page
Journal of Bacteriology logoLink to Journal of Bacteriology
. 1972 Aug;111(2):437–442. doi: 10.1128/jb.111.2.437-442.1972

Spore Pool Glutamic Acid as a Metabolite in Germination

Harold F Foerster 1
PMCID: PMC251301  PMID: 4626499

Abstract

Spore glutamic acid pools were examined in dormant and germinating spores using colorimetric and 14C analytical procedures. Germination of spores of Bacillus megaterium (parent strain), initiated by d-glucose, was accompanied by a rapid drop in the level of spore pool glutamate, from 12.0 μg/mg of dry spores to 7.7 μg/mg of dry spores after 30 sec of germination. Similar decreases in extractable spore pool glutamate were observed with l-alanine-initiated germination of B. licheniformis spores. On the other hand, glutamate pools of mutant spores of B. megaterium, with a requirement of γ-aminobutyric acid for spore germination, remained unchanged for 9 min of germination, at which time more than 50% of the spore population had germinated. Evidence for conversion of spore pool glutamate to γ-aminobutyric acid during germination of spores of B. megaterium (parent strain) was obtained.

Full text

PDF
437

Selected References

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

  1. Akers E., Aronson J. N. Detection on polyacrylamide gels of L-glutamic acid decarboxylase activities from Bacillus thuringiensis. Anal Biochem. 1971 Feb;39(2):535–538. doi: 10.1016/0003-2697(71)90446-5. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  2. Cozzani I., Misuri A., Santoni C. Purification and general properties of glutamate decarboxylase from Clostridium perfringens. Biochem J. 1970 Jun;118(1):135–141. doi: 10.1042/bj1180135. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  3. Foerster H. F. -aminobutyric acid as a required germinant for mutant spores of Bacillus megaterium. J Bacteriol. 1971 Nov;108(2):817–823. doi: 10.1128/jb.108.2.817-823.1971. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  4. Foerster H. F., Foster J. W. Response of Bacillus spores to combinations of germinative compounds. J Bacteriol. 1966 Mar;91(3):1168–1177. doi: 10.1128/jb.91.3.1168-1177.1966. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  5. HYATT M. T., LEVINSON H. S. Correlation of respiratory activity with phases of spore germination and growth in Bacillus megaterium as influenced by manganese and L-alanine. J Bacteriol. 1956 Aug;72(2):176–183. doi: 10.1128/jb.72.2.176-183.1956. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  6. LEVINSON H. S., HYATT M. T. The stimulation of germination and respiration of Bacillus megaterium spores by mangasese, L-alanine and heat. J Bacteriol. 1955 Oct;70(4):368–374. doi: 10.1128/jb.70.4.368-374.1955. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  7. MANDELS G. R., LEVINSON H. S., HYATT M. T. Analysis of respiration during germination and enlargement of spores of Bacillus megaterium and of the fungus Myrothecium verrucaria. J Gen Physiol. 1956 Jan 20;39(3):301–309. doi: 10.1085/jgp.39.3.301. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  8. MOORE S., STEIN W. H. Chromatography of amino acids on sulfonated polystyrene resins. J Biol Chem. 1951 Oct;192(2):663–681. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  9. Nelson D. L., Kornberg A. Biochemical studies of bacterial sporulation and germination. 18. Free amino acids in spores. J Biol Chem. 1970 Mar 10;245(5):1128–1136. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  10. O'CONNOR R., HALVORSON H. Intermediate metabolism of aerobic spores. IV. Alanine deamination during the germination of spores of Bacillus cereus. J Bacteriol. 1959 Dec;78:844–851. doi: 10.1128/jb.78.6.844-851.1959. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  11. POWELL J. F., STRANGE R. E. Biochemical changes occurring during the germination of bacterial spores. Biochem J. 1953 May;54(2):205–209. doi: 10.1042/bj0540205. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  12. ROSEN H. A modified ninhydrin colorimetric analysis for amino acids. Arch Biochem Biophys. 1957 Mar;67(1):10–15. doi: 10.1016/0003-9861(57)90241-2. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  13. Setlow P., Kornberg A. Biochemical studies of bacterial sporulation and germination. 23. Nucleotide metabolism during spore germination. J Biol Chem. 1970 Jul 25;245(14):3645–3652. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  14. Setlow P., Kornberg A. Biochemical studies of bacterial sporulation and germination. XXII. Energy metabolism in early stages of germination of Bacillus megaterium spores. J Biol Chem. 1970 Jul 25;245(14):3637–3644. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  15. Strausbauch P. H., Fischer E. H. Chemical and physical properties of Escherichia coli glutamate decarboxylase. Biochemistry. 1970 Jan 20;9(2):226–233. doi: 10.1021/bi00804a006. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

Articles from Journal of Bacteriology are provided here courtesy of American Society for Microbiology (ASM)

RESOURCES