Open AccessBiochemistry of spore germination in Phycomyces
Author(s) -
Laere AndréJ.
Publication year - 1986
Publication title -
fems microbiology letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.899
H-Index - 151
eISSN - 1574-6968
pISSN - 0378-1097
DOI - 10.1111/j.1574-6968.1986.tb01193.x
Subject(s) - phycomyces , phycomyces blakesleeanus , trehalose , spore , biochemistry , germination , metabolism , enzyme , glycerol , stimulation , biology , protein biosynthesis , spore germination , trehalase , microbiology and biotechnology , botany , mutant , neuroscience , gene
The constitutionally dormant spores of Phycomyces blakesleeanus can be activated by heat shock or treatment with several monocarboxylic acids. Activation is followed first by a general stimulation of metabolism, e.g. respiration, protein‐, RNA‐ and cell‐wall synthesis, and subsequently by nuclear division and germ‐tube emergence. Initial germination is not dependent on RNA synthesis and can even start without protein synthesis. The first common effect of different activating treatments is a transient rise in cyclic AMP (cAMP) content, caused by a change in phosphodiesterase activity after heat activation, and by unknown factors during activation by acids. cAMP transiently activates trehalase and glycerol‐3‐phosphatase in the spores. The activation of these enzymes causes a quick turnover of trehalose into glycerol. During the same period, the water status of the cells is altered so dramatically that perhaps this may explain at least part of the stimulation of metabolism in the germinating spore.