Open AccessLevels of cell wall enzymes in endospores and vegetative cells of Bacillus subtilis
Author(s) -
V M Reusch,
S. G. Hale,
B J Hurly
Publication year - 1982
Publication title -
journal of bacteriology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.652
H-Index - 246
eISSN - 1067-8832
pISSN - 0021-9193
DOI - 10.1128/jb.152.3.1147-1153.1982
Subject(s) - bacilli , endospore , bacillus subtilis , biology , enzyme , microbiology and biotechnology , peptidoglycan , biochemistry , bacillus (shape) , cell wall , teichoic acid , dipicolinic acid , germination , spore , bacteria , botany , genetics
Vegetative bacilli and refractile endospores of Bacillus subtilis 168 were disrupted by homogenization with glass beads and fractionated by differential centrifugation. Most of the protein of endospores was particulate, whereas for bacilli most was soluble. Alanine racemase activity was sixfold higher in extract of endospores than in extract of bacilli and was particulate, whereas the enzyme from bacilli was soluble. The specific activities of seven other enzymes involved in peptidoglycan and teichoic acid biosynthesis were higher in extracts of bacilli than in those of endospores. The results suggest that restoration of activities of these seven enzymes to vegetative levels occurs during germination and outgrowth.