Spore Pool Glutamic Acid as a Metabolite in Germination

Spore glutamic acid pools were examined in dormant and germinating spores using colorimetric and14 C analytical procedures. Germination of spores ofBacillus megaterium (parent strain), initiated byd -glucose, was accompanied by a rapid drop in the level of spore pool glutamate, from 12.0 μg/mg of dry spores to 7.7 μg/mg of dry spores after 30 sec of germination. Similar decreases in extractable spore pool glutamate were observed withl -alanine-initiated germination ofB. licheniformis spores. On the other hand, glutamate pools of mutant spores ofB. megaterium , with a requirement of γ-aminobutyric acid for spore germination, remained unchanged for 9 min of germination, at which time more than 50% of the spore population had germinated. Evidence for conversion of spore pool glutamate to γ-aminobutyric acid during germination of spores ofB. megaterium (parent strain) was obtained.