Skip to main content
Journal of Bacteriology logoLink to Journal of Bacteriology
. 1973 Nov;116(2):797–802. doi: 10.1128/jb.116.2.797-802.1973

Germination of Bacillus megaterium Spores After Various Extraction Procedures

James C Vary 1
PMCID: PMC285448  PMID: 4200857

Abstract

The initiation of germination of Bacillus megaterium QM B1551 spores, grown in supplemented nutrient broth, has been studied. The initiation properties depend on buffer concentrations and the particular batch of spores. Initiation in l-alanine, KBr, calcium dipicolinate, or in buffer alone increases as a function of the spore age; whereas initiation in glucose, l-leucine, or l-proline remains relatively constant. Extraction of spores with alkali, sodium dodecyl sulfate-dithiothreitol, or lithium diiodosalicylate removes variable amounts of dipicolinic acid, hexosamine, and protein. These extracted spores are still capable of initiation and, in some cases, initiation is stimulated. However, extraction of spores with 8 M urea-10% mercaptoethanol inhibits subsequent initiation.

Full text

PDF
797

Selected References

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

  1. Aronson A. I., Fitz-James P. C. Reconstitution of bacterial spore coat layers in vitro. J Bacteriol. 1971 Oct;108(1):571–578. doi: 10.1128/jb.108.1.571-578.1971. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  2. Cassier M., Ryter A. Sur un mutant de Clostridium perfringens donnant des spores sans tuniques à germination lysozyme-dépendante. Ann Inst Pasteur (Paris) 1971 Dec;121(6):717–732. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  3. Chambon P., DuPraw E. J., Kornberg A. Biochemical studies of bacterial sporulation and germination. IX. Ribonucleic acid and deoxyribonucleic acid polymerases in nuclear fractions of vegetative cells and spores of Bacillus megaterium. J Biol Chem. 1968 Oct 10;243(19):5101–5109. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  4. Fitz-James P. C. Formation of protoplasts from resting spores. J Bacteriol. 1971 Mar;105(3):1119–1136. doi: 10.1128/jb.105.3.1119-1136.1971. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  5. 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]
  6. Holmes P. K., Nags E. H., Levinson H. S. Concurrent Heat Activation and Suppression of Bacillus megaterium Spore Germination. J Bacteriol. 1965 Sep;90(3):827–828. doi: 10.1128/jb.90.3.827-828.1965. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  7. Hyatt M. T., Levinson H. S. Water vapor, aqueous ethyl alcohol, and heat activation of Bacillus megaterium spore germination. J Bacteriol. 1968 Jun;95(6):2090–2101. doi: 10.1128/jb.95.6.2090-2101.1968. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  8. JANSSEN F. W., LUND A. J., ANDERSON L. E. Colorimetric assay for dipicolinic acid in bacterial spores. Science. 1958 Jan 3;127(3288):26–27. doi: 10.1126/science.127.3288.26. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  9. Kondo M., Foster J. W. Chemical and electron microscope studies on fractions prepared from coats of Bacillus spores. J Gen Microbiol. 1967 May;47(2):257–271. doi: 10.1099/00221287-47-2-257. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  10. LEVINSON H. S., HYATT M. T. EFFECT OF SPORULATION MEDIUM ON HEAT RESISTANCE, CHEMICAL COMPOSITION, AND GERMINATION OF BACILLUS MEGATERIUM SPORES. J Bacteriol. 1964 Apr;87:876–886. doi: 10.1128/jb.87.4.876-886.1964. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  11. LOWRY O. H., ROSEBROUGH N. J., FARR A. L., RANDALL R. J. Protein measurement with the Folin phenol reagent. J Biol Chem. 1951 Nov;193(1):265–275. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  12. Levinson H. S., Hyatt M. T. Effects of temperature on activation, germination, and outgrowth of Bacillus megaterium spores. J Bacteriol. 1970 Jan;101(1):58–64. doi: 10.1128/jb.101.1.58-64.1970. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  13. Marchesi V. T., Andrews E. P. Glycoproteins: isolation from cellmembranes with lithium diiodosalicylate. Science. 1971 Dec 17;174(4015):1247–1248. doi: 10.1126/science.174.4015.1247. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  14. Prasad C., Diesterhaft M., Freese E. Initiation of spore germination in glycolytic mutants of Bacillus subtilis. J Bacteriol. 1972 Apr;110(1):321–328. doi: 10.1128/jb.110.1.321-328.1972. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  15. RONDLE C. J., MORGAN W. T. The determination of glucosamine and galactosamine. Biochem J. 1955 Dec;61(4):586–589. doi: 10.1042/bj0610586. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  16. Rotman Y., Fields M. L. A modified reagent for dipicolinic acid analysis. Anal Biochem. 1968 Jan;22(1):168–168. doi: 10.1016/0003-2697(68)90272-8. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  17. Rowley D. B., Levinson H. S. Changes in spores of Bacillus megaterium treated with thioglycolate at a low pH and restoration of germinability and heat resistance by cations. J Bacteriol. 1967 Mar;93(3):1017–1022. doi: 10.1128/jb.93.3.1017-1022.1967. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  18. 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]
  19. Vary J. C., Kornberg A. Biochemical studies of bacterial sporulation and germination. XXI. Temperature-sensitive mutants for initiation of germination. J Bacteriol. 1970 Jan;101(1):327–329. doi: 10.1128/jb.101.1.327-329.1970. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  20. Vary J. C. Spore germination of Bacillus megaterium QM B1551 mutants. J Bacteriol. 1972 Oct;112(1):640–642. doi: 10.1128/jb.112.1.640-642.1972. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

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

RESOURCES