Research on the early stages of spore germination in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Bacillus licheniformis</Emphasis> using dynamic phase microscopy

The changes in the state of Bacillus subtilis spores that occur during germination were analyzed using dynamic phase microscopy (DPM). DPM is based on monitoring and analyzing the interference image of a specimen in a coherent laser beam. The optical path difference (the phase thickness of the specimen, PT) depends on the geometrical height of the specimen and its refractive index. We demonstrated that the maximum PT value is a convenient criterion of the physiological state of the organism involved: PT is ≥ 80 nm, ～40–50 nm, and ≤ 20 in dormant, developing (initiated), and heat-killed spores, respectively. We established that (i) heating a spore suspension to 40°C results in a reversible twofold decrease (from 80 to 40 nm) in their PT under conditions that do not promote the development of the bacteria; this decrease is irreversible under growth-promoting conditions; (ii) the PT values of germinating spores oscillate with a considerable fluctuation amplitude (up to 7 nm), in contrast to the limited fluctuation amplitude (within 1 nm) in dormant spores; (iii) activated spores were heterogenous with respect to the PT pattern: a majority of the spores exhibited a usual spatial profile (with a maximum thickness in the center), whereas a minor fraction of them were characterized by an erythrocyte-like profile with a concave center; this implies that the central zone of the spore was more rapidly hydrated (with a decrease in refractive index) than the peripheral zone.     

Immunological detection of the GerA spore germination proteins in the spore integuments of Bacillus subtilis using scanning electron microscopy

Abstract To clarify the molecular mechanisms that trigger spore germination of Bacillus subtilis , the location of GerA proteins (GerAA, GerAB and GerAC), which were reported to be putative gene products of a receptor for one of the germinants, l-alanine, was investigated by immunological techniques using anti-GerA peptide antibodies. Four antibodies were raised against the corresponding epitopes, two in GerAA, one in GerAB and the other in GerAC molecules. The binding of all four antibodies to the inner surface of the cortex-less spore coat fragments could be seen by scanning immunoelectron microscopy with colloidal gold particles. The result agreed with the fact, previously reported, that the colloidal gold particles were visualized just inside the spore coat layer by transmission immunoelectron microscopy using another anti-GerAB peptide antibody.     

RNA synthesis during spore germination in Bacillus subtilis.

Summary We have analyzed the RNA synthesized during spore germination in Bacillus subtilis. Early in germination there is little incorporation of [³H]uridine into RNA. A large increase in incorporation into RNA was found at 45–60 min into germination which was in part due to increases in the specific activity of the UTP pool. When corrected for specific activity changes, the instantaneous rate of RNA synthesis showed a seven to tenfold increase between 30 and 45 min of germination. Polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis studies showed that the RNA synthesized during germination appeared very similar to the RNA made during vegetative growth. DNA-RNA hybridization studies indicated that mRNA and rRNA were synthesized throughout germination. Their relative proportions remained constant and were very similar to the composition of RNA synthesized during vegetative growth.In partial fulfillment of the requirements for the doctoral degree by A.S. in the Department of Microbiology at the New York University School of Medicine     

Biochemical analysis of the Bacillus subtilis 1604 spore germination response

Germination at 37 degrees C of spores of Bacillus subtilis 1604 in the L-alanine and potassium phosphate (ALA) and the glucose, fructose, L-asparagine, potassium chloride (GFAK) germinant systems was triggered following heat activation at 70 degrees C for 1 h. In these conditions, 50% of the spore population became committed to germinate after exposure for 10 min and 14 min to ALA and GFAK, respectively, at which time 38% and 30% losses of OD600 had taken place. Dipicolinic acid (DPA) release, loss of heat resistance and release of soluble hexosamine-containing fragments occurred after commitment and were closely associated with loss of refractility in both the ALA and GFAK pathways. Net ATP synthesis could not be detected until 3-4 min after initiation of germination in both ALA and GFAK, by which time greater than 20% of the spore population was committed to germinate. The ALA and GFAK germination pathways were greater than 99% inhibited by 3 and 1 mM-HgCl2, respectively, as measured by OD600 loss. Reversible post-commitment HgCl2-sensitive sites were present in the ALA and GFAK pathways which were 50% inhibited by 0.125 mM and 0.05 mM-HgCl2, respectively. A pre-commitment HgCl2-sensitive site was identified in the ALA pathway which was 55% inhibited by 6 mM-HgCl2. At 3 mM-HgCl2, 70% of the spore population became committed to germinate in the ALA pathway, whereas less than 5% OD600 loss occurred. In this system, loss of heat resistance was associated with commitment, whereas OD600 loss and DPA release were identified as post-commitment events. The ALA and GFAK pathways were insensitive to a variety of metabolic inhibitors. Protease inhibitors had different effects on the ALA and GFAK pathways: phenylmethanesulphonyl fluoride (PMSF) solely inhibited ALA germination at a pre-commitment site and had little effect on GFAK germination, whereas N alpha-p-tosyl-L-arginine methyl ester (TAME) inhibited both the ALA and GFAK pathways at pre- and post-commitment sites. These results are discussed in relation to a recently proposed model for the triggering of Bacillus megaterium KM spore germination.     

A novel small protein of Bacillus subtilis involved in spore germination and spore coat assembly

Two small genes named sscA (previously yhzE) and orf-62, located in the prsA-yhaK intergenic region of the Bacillus subtilis genome, were transcribed by SigK and GerE in the mother cells during the later stages of sporulation. The SscA-FLAG fusion protein was produced from T(5) of sporulation and incorporated into mature spores. sscA mutant spores exhibited poor germination, and Tricine-SDS-PAGE analysis showed that the coat protein profile of the mutant differed from that of the wild type. Bands corresponding to proteins at 59, 36, 5, and 3 kDa were reduced in the sscA null mutant. Western blot analysis of anti-CotB and anti-CotG antibodies showed reductions of the proteins at 59 kDa and 36 kDa in the sscA mutant spores. These proteins correspond to CotB and CotG. By immunoblot analysis of an anti-CotH antibody, we also observed that CotH was markedly reduced in the sscA mutant spores. It appears that SscA is a novel spore protein involved in the assembly of several components of the spore coat, including CotB, CotG, and CotH, and is associated with spore germination.     

Localization of GerAA and GerAC germination proteins in the Bacillus subtilis spore.

The GerAA, -AB, and -AC proteins of the Bacillus subtilis spore are required for the germination response to L-alanine as the sole germinant. They are likely to encode the components of the germination apparatus that respond directly to this germinant, mediating the spore's response; multiple homologues of the gerA genes are found in every spore former so far examined. The gerA operon is expressed in the forespore, and the level of expression of the operon appears to be low. The GerA proteins are predicted to be membrane associated. In an attempt to localize GerA proteins, spores of B. subtilis were broken and fractionated to give integument, membrane, and soluble fractions. Using antibodies that detect Ger proteins specifically, as confirmed by the analysis of strains lacking GerA and the related GerB proteins, the GerAA protein and the GerAC+GerBC protein homologues were localized to the membrane fraction of fragmented spores. The spore-specific penicillin-binding protein PBP5*, a marker for the outer forespore membrane, was absent from this fraction. Extraction of spores to remove coat layers did not release the GerAC or AA protein from the spores. Both experimental approaches suggest that GerAA and GerAC proteins are located in the inner spore membrane, which forms a boundary around the cellular compartment of the spore. The results provide support for a model of germination in which, in order to initiate germination, germinant has to permeate the coat and cortex of the spore and bind to a germination receptor located in the inner membrane.     

Interactions between Bacillus subtilis early spore coat morphogenetic proteins

When challenged by stresses such as starvation, the soil bacterium Bacillus subtilis produces an endospore surrounded by a proteinaceous coat composed of >70 proteins that are organized into three main layers: an amorphous undercoat, lightly staining lamellar inner coat and electron-dense outer coat. This coat protects the spore against a variety of chemicals or lysozyme. Mutual interactions of the coat's building blocks are responsible for the formation of this structurally complex and extraordinarily resistant shell. However, the assembly process of spore coat proteins is still poorly understood. In the present work, the main focus is on the three spore coat morphogenetic proteins: SpoIVA, SpoVID and SafA. Direct interaction between SpoIVA and SpoVID proteins was observed using a yeast two-hybrid assay and verified by coexpression experiment followed by Western blot analysis. Coexpression experiments also confirmed previous findings that SpoVID and SafA directly interact, and revealed a novel interaction between SpoIVA and SafA. Moreover, gel filtration analysis revealed that both SpoIVA and SpoVID proteins form large oligomers.     

Altered arrangement of proteins in the spore coat of a germination mutant of Bacillus subtilis

Spores produced by a mutant of Bacillus subtilis were slow to develop their resistance properties during sporulation, and were slower to germinate than were wild-type spores. The coat protein composition of the mutant spores, as analysed by SDS-PAGE, was similar to that of the wild-type spores. However, one of the proteins (mol. wt 12000) which is normally present in the outer-most layers of mature wild-type spores and which is surface-exposed, was assembled abnormally into the coat of the mutant spores and not surface-exposed. The mutation responsible for this phenotype (spo-520) has been mapped between pheA and leuB on the B. subtilis chromosome, and was 47% cotransformable with leuB16. This mutation, and three others closely linked to it, define a new sporulation locus, spoVIB, which is involved in spore coat assembly. The phenotype of the mutant(s) supports the contention that spore germination and resistance properties may be determined by the assembly of the coat.