Isolation and characterization of Bacillus megaterium mutants containing decreased levels of spore protease. [UV radiation]
A proteolytic activity present in spores of Bacillus megaterium has previously been implicated in the initiation of hydrolysis of the A, B, and C proteins which are degraded during spore germination. Four mutants of B. megaterium containing 20 to 30% of the normal level of spore proteolytic activity have been isolated. Partial purification of the protease from wild-type spores by a revised procedure resulted in the resolution of spore protease activity on the A, B, and C proteins into two peaks--a major one (protease II) and a minor one (protease I). The protease mutants tested lacked active protease II. All of the mutants exhibited a decreased rate of degradation of the A, B, and C proteins during spore germination at 30/sup 0/C, but degradation of the proteins did occur. Degradation of the A, B, and C proteins during germination of the mutant spores was decreased neither by blockade of ATP production nor by germination at 44/sup 0/C. Initiation of spore germination was normal in all four mutants, and all four mutants went through outgrowth, grew, and sporulated normally in rich medium. Similarly, outgrowth of spores of two of the four mutants was normal in minimal medium at 30/sup 0/C. In the two mutants studied, the kinetics of loss of spore heat resistance and spore uv light resistance during germination were identical to those of wild-type spores. This indicates that the A, B, and C proteins alone are not sufficient to account for the heat or uv light resistance of the dormant spore.
- Research Organization:
- Univ. of Connecticut Health Center, Farmington
- OSTI ID:
- 6801779
- Journal Information:
- J. Bacteriol.; (United States), Vol. 135:3
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
BACILLUS MEGATERIUM
BIOLOGICAL RADIATION EFFECTS
MUTANTS
BACTERIAL SPORES
ENZYME ACTIVITY
ENZYMES
PURIFICATION
ATP
DECOMPOSITION
HYDROLYSIS
PROTEINS
ULTRAVIOLET RADIATION
BACILLUS
BACTERIA
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
LYSIS
MICROORGANISMS
NUCLEOTIDES
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
RADIATION EFFECTS
RADIATIONS
SOLVOLYSIS
SPORES
560131* - Radiation Effects on Microorganisms- Basic Studies- (-1987)