Open AccessIncreases in the intracellular concentration of glycerol during development in Myxococcus xanthus S. Courtney Frasch
Author(s) -
Dworkin Martin
Publication year - 1994
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.1574-6968.1994.tb07060.x
Subject(s) - myxococcus xanthus , glycerol , intracellular , morphogenesis , morphogen , microbiology and biotechnology , biochemistry , biology , chemistry , biophysics , gene , mutant
The role of glycerol as a natural morphogen of myxospore formation in Myxococcus xanthus was examined. Glycerol was extracted from cells undergoing development and analyzed by gas chromatography. Glycerol is present in cells, and the intracellular level undergoes a series of transient increases during development. The data suggest a role for glycerol in myxosporulation and fruiting body morphogenesis supporting the notion that this chemical induction of sporulation may represent a physiological pathway in development.