This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Reprints and Permissions Copyright Information Books from ASM Press MicrobeWorld Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Foerster, H. F. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Foerster, H. F.

-Aminobutyric Acid as a Required Germinant for Mutant Spores of Bacillus megaterium

¹ Sam Houston State University, Huntsville, Texas 77341

ABSTRACT

Germinated spores of Bacillus megaterium QM B1551 were irradiated with ultraviolet light, and spore-forming survivors were screened for germination requirements. Spore strains which failed to germinate in a variety of defined solutions germinative for spores of the parent strain were obtained. Mutant spores germinated readily in solutions containing yeast extract or one of numerous complex preparations. -Aminobutyric acid, obtained from yeast extract by column chromatography, was shown to be required for germination by the mutant spores. -Aminobutyric acid and L-alanine at final concentrations of 1 mM each, in solutions of KI (40 mM), equaled the potency of yeast extract (1 mg/ml) in the germination of the mutant spores. One of several other amino acids could be substituted, though less effectively, for L-alanine. -Aminobutyric acid, ß-aminobutyric acid, ß-alanine, and 5-aminovaleric acid were ineffective substitutes for -aminobutyric acid in mutant spore germination.