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Inhibition by Potassium Ion of the Pregerminative Response to L ‐Alanine of Unactivated Spores of Bacillus cereus T
Author(s) -
Shibata Hirofumi,
Takamatsu Hiroaki,
Minami Masako,
Tani Isamu
Publication year - 1978
Publication title -
microbiology and immunology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.664
H-Index - 70
eISSN - 1348-0421
pISSN - 0385-5600
DOI - 10.1111/j.1348-0421.1978.tb00390.x
Subject(s) - spore , germination , inosine , bacillus cereus , potassium , biology , incubation , alanine , cereus , sodium , microbiology and biotechnology , biochemistry , chromatography , chemistry , bacteria , horticulture , amino acid , enzyme , genetics , organic chemistry
The effect of potassium ion on L ‐alanine‐inosine‐induced germination of unactivated spores of Bacillus cereus T was studied. Unactivated spores germinated in 0.1 M sodium phosphate buffer (NaPB), but not 0.1 M potassium phosphate buffer (KPB), at pH 8.0 and at 30 C. Inhibition of germination was also observed on incubation of unactivated spores in NaPB containing potassium chloride. Previously it was demonstrated that germination of unactivated spores involves at least two steps, one induced by L ‐alanine, and the other by inosine. Potassium ion seems to inhibit the response of the spores to inosine, because: (1) Spores that had been preincubated with L ‐alanine in NaPB or KPB, germinated in NaPB but not KPB in the presence of inosine. (2) During germination in NaPB, incorporation of L ‐[ 14 C] alanine showed bimodal kinetics with a rapid first phase and a second continuous phase, but in KPB the second phase of incorporation did not occur. The events occurring before germination of unactivated spores are discussed with reference to the initiation of germination.