FIG. 5.

RP-HPLC separation of muropeptides released from germinating spores. PG was prepared from germinating spore suspensions as described in Materials and Methods. Samples were collected after spores were allowed to germinate for 120 min. Fifty percent of each exudate (D to F) sample was digested with muramidase, reduced, and separated as previously described (22). The other 50% of each exudate (A to C) was reduced and separated without muramidase digestion. Peaks are numbered as in reference 11 and Table 3, but the initial “a” in the germination-specific peak names were omitted for space considerations. Early-eluting peaks labeled “b” are buffer components present in blank samples. Peaks labeled “ex” are spore exudate components that are not derived from PG. Peaks labeled “Ino” are from the inosine used as germinant.