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.     

Separation of two functional roles of L-alanine in the initiation of Bacillus subtilis spore germination

Spores of the standard transformable Marburg strain of Bacillus subtilis can be initiated to germinate by l-alanine alone. We isolated mutants which required for this process, in addition to l-alanine, the combination of d-glucose + d-fructose + K(+) or NH(4) (+) ions. In place of fructose, autoclaved or caramelized glucose could be used. Even the standard type strain required the addition of these three agents when d-alanine was present or when the temperature was raised. These findings show that l-alanine normally performs two functions during initiation, one of which is absent in the mutants or is blocked by d-alanine or elevated temperature. One of our mutants was not absolutely dependent on the addition of external l-alanine, because it could be initiated at a reduced rate by the sole addition of glucose + K(+) or NH(4) (+). When K(+) or NH(4) (+) was replaced by Na(+), the initiation rate was greatly reduced. The divalent metal ions Mg(++), Mn(++), and Ca(++) could not satisfy the cation requirement.     

Cardiolipin enrichment in spore membranes and its involvement in germination of Bacillus subtilis Marburg

Examination of the lipid composition of spore membranes of Bacillus subtilis Marburg, extracted after treatment of spores with dithiothreitol/urea and NaOH followed by lysozyme digestion, revealed that the spore membranes had significantly higher cardiolipin (CL) content than the membranes of exponentially growing cells. Analysis of the membranes of coat-defective, cotE::cat and gerE::cat mutant spores, which are susceptible to lysozyme digestion without chemical treatment, confirmed that spore membranes contain a high level of CL. After addition of the germinants L-alanine or AGFK (a combination of asparagine, glucose, fructose, and KCl), the turbidity of wild type spore suspensions decreased to 50% within 30 min. Suspensions of spores with only trace amounts of CL, however, showed no decrease in turbidity when L-alanine was added and the initial decrease in turbidity with AGFK was slight (14% after 60 min). These results indicate that CL is involved in an early step of germination, related to the functioning of germinant receptors. This is the first conspicuous in vivo evidence that CL in bacterial membranes has a specific role, in which it cannot be replaced by other anionic phospholipids.     

Nuclear and cell division in Bacillus subtilis: cell development from spore germination.

The changes in the morphology of the nucleoids and the mesosomes in Bacillus subtilis cells during synchronous outgrowth after spore germination were followed in large-scale three-dimensional cell reconstructions. Shortly after outgrowth of the cell begins in Spizizen medium with glucose, the mesosome becomes an elongated structure in close contact with a rounded nucleoid. When nuclear replication reaches full activity, the mesosome develops into a single, complicated versatile system, with tubules that traverse the cytoplasm and have elaborations in and near the nucleoplasm. Later the system may retract to form large rounded mesosomes; the tubules and strings of vesicles within these mesosomes probably have been collected from the cytoplasm. Shortly after the first cell division, both sister cells have two nucleoids, but with longer generation times induced by growth in media containing acetate instead of glucose; these sister cells have only one nucleoid each. In acetate-grown cells rounded nucleoids that have no contact with a mesosome may represent nucleoids in a temporary stage of rest. On the other hand, the nucleoids of cells growing in glucose-containing medium are always penetrated by mesosomal material, superficially or deeply. Since the mesosome appears capable of traversing the nuclear fibrils, and even reaching the last strands connecting the dividing nucleoids, it is suggested that this organelle may play a vital role in the Bacillus division cycle.     

Role of ger proteins in nutrient and nonnutrient triggering of spore germination in Bacillus subtilis

Dormant Bacillus subtilis spores germinate in the presence of particular nutrients called germinants. The spores are thought to recognize germinants through receptor proteins encoded by the gerA family of operons, which includes gerA, gerB, and gerK. We sought to substantiate this putative function of the GerA family proteins by characterizing spore germination in a mutant strain that contained deletions at all known gerA-like loci. As expected, the mutant spores germinated very poorly in a variety of rich media. In contrast, they germinated like wild-type spores in a chemical germinant, a 1-1 chelate of Ca(2+) and dipicolinic acid (DPA). These observations showed that proteins encoded by gerA family members are required for nutrient-induced germination but not for chemical-triggered germination, supporting the hypothesis that the GerA family encodes receptors for nutrient germinants. Further characterization of Ca(2+)-DPA-induced germination showed that the effect of Ca(2+)-DPA on spore germination was saturated at 60 mM and had a K(m) of 30 mM. We also found that decoating spores abolished their ability to germinate in Ca(2+)-DPA but not in nutrient germinants, indicating that Ca(2+)-DPA and nutrient germinants probably act through parallel arms of the germination pathway.     

Germination properties as marker events characterizing later stages of Bacillus subtilis spore formation

At various stages during spore formation sporangia were shocked by cold treatment or with toluene, and the germination requirements of the prespores were examined. Up to 5 h after induction of sporulation (t5) germination was spontaneous; i.e., it occurred without any added germinants. After t5, during stages V and VI, the capacity for spontaneous germination diminished progressively, and the spores acquired a need for externally added germinants. At t6 this need was satisfied by either L-alanine or a mixture of KCl, glucose, and fructose. By t8, the latter response had disappeared. The spores germinated only with L-alanine, and the response was much slower. Experiments with chloramphenicol showed that the germination properties of the spores appearing between t6 and t8 were the expression of events in protein synthesis that had occurred before t5. Although the germination requirements developed at about the same time as heat resistance, they could be dissociated from heat resistance in wild-type and mutant cells. The germination properties of the developing spores are additional marker events characterizing the later stages of sporulation, as follows: (i) spontaneous germination (up to the end of stage IV); (ii) germination requirements that are satisfied by KCl-glucose-fructose or L-alanine (stage V); and (iii) slow germination response with L-alanine only (stage VI).     

Acid-soluble spore proteins of Bacillus subtilis

Acid-soluble spore proteins (ASSPs) comprise about 5% of the total protein of mature spores of different Bacillus subtilis strains. They consist of three abundant species, alpha, beta, and gamma, four less abundant species, and several minor species, alpha, beta, and gamma make up about 18, 18 and 36%, respectively, of the total ASSPs of strain 168, have molecular weights of 5,900, 5,9000, and 11,000, respectively, and resemble the major (A, C, and B) components of Bacillus megaterium ASSPs in several respects, including sensitivity to a specific B. megaterium spore endopeptidase. However, they have pI's of 6.58, 6.67, and 7.96, all lower than those of any of the B. megaterium ASSPs. Although strains varied in the proportions of different ASSPs, to overall patterns seen on gel electrophoresis are constant. ASSPs are located interior to the cortex, presumably in the spore cytoplasm, and are synthesized during sporulation and degraded during germination.