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STAGES IN GERMINATION OF SPORES OF BACILLUS LICHENIFORMIS

The Israel Institute for Biological Research, Ness Ziona, Israel

ABSTRACT

HALMANN, M. (The Israel Institute for Biological Research, Ness Ziona) AND A. KEYNAN. Stages in germination of spores of Bacillus licheniformis. J. Bacteriol. 84:1187–1193. 1962.—This work defines conditions under which the first biochemical step in germination of spores (the so-called trigger reaction) could be studied separately from subsequent steps in germination. Although the initiation of germination of spores of Bacillus licheniformis occurred only above 20 C, and at pH 6, spores preincubated for short periods at this temperature and pH will continue to germinate when transferred to a lower temperature or pH. D-Alanine, various salts, and ethyl pyruvate inhibited the trigger reaction, but did not inhibit the continued germination of triggered spores. The results of this experiment are consistent with the notion that the germination reaction is composed of at least two distinct metabolic phases, and that the functioning of the enzyme L-alanine dehydrogenase is necessary for the first phase, the trigger reaction.