Abstract
l-Alanine initiates the germination of spores of Bacillus subtilis by entering two metabolic pathways. The products of one pathway, which is inhibited by d-alanine or by elevated temperature, can also be derived from a combination of fructose, glucose, and K+. The present study demonstrated that the products of the other pathway can be derived from l-asparagine or l-glutamine or, to a lesser extent, from several other amino acids. Hence, the combination of l-asparagine (or l-glutamine), fructose, glucose, and K+ can initiate spore germination in the absence of l-alanine. Spores preincubated in a combination of asparagine and fructose do not lose refractility, optical density, or heat resistance, and do not take up methylene blue stain. The spores do, however, undergo some reaction which prepares them for a more rapid response to the later addition of glucose and K+. This preincubation reaction has an optimal temperature of about 44 C.
Full text
PDF
Selected References
These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.
- 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]
- HACHISUKA Y., KATO N., ASANO N., KUNO T. Studies on spore germination. II. Effect of caramels from sugars and other carbon sources on spore germination. J Bacteriol. 1955 Apr;69(4):407–411. doi: 10.1128/jb.69.4.407-412.1955. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- HYATT M. T., LEVINSON H. S. EFFECT OF SUGARS AND OTHER CARBON COMPOUNDS ON GERMINATION AND POSTGERMINATIVE DEVELOPMENT OF BACILLUS MEGATERIUM SPORES. J Bacteriol. 1964 Nov;88:1403–1415. doi: 10.1128/jb.88.5.1403-1415.1964. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- 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]
- Wax R., Freese E., Cashel M. Separation of two functional roles of L-alanine in the initiation of Bacillus subtilis spore germination. J Bacteriol. 1967 Sep;94(3):522–529. doi: 10.1128/jb.94.3.522-529.1967. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]