Germination of Spores of Clostridium bifermentans by Certain Amino Acids, Lactate and Pyruvate in the Presence of Sodium or Potassium Ions

Waites, W. M.; Wyatt, Linda R.

doi:10.1099/00221287-67-2-215

Cited by 31 publications

(24 citation statements)

References 11 publications

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“…The strain of Clostridium b fermentans used and the preparation and storage of spores were as described previously (Waites & Wyatt, 1971) except that spores were produced on a trypticase agar containing (g 1-l): Trypticase (BBL), 30 ; yeast extract (Difco), I '0 ; ammonium sulphate, 10 ; agar, I 2 ; adjusted to pH 7-3 with I M-NaOH. The organism was maintained in the reinforced clostridial medium of Hirsch & Grinsted (1954).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Effect of Hydrogen Peroxide on Spores of Clostridium bifermentans

Bayliss¹,

Waites²

1976

Journal of General Microbiology

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The effect of hydrogen peroxide on the germination, colony formation and structure of spores of Clostridium bifermentans was examined. Treatment with 0.35 M-hydrogen peroxide increased the germination rate at 25 "C but increasing the temperature or concentration of hydrogen peroxide decreased both the germination rate and colony formation. The presence of Cu2+ increased the lethal effect of hydrogen peroxide on colony formation as much as 3000-fold. Preincubation of spores with Cu2+ before treatment with hydrogen peroxide produced a similar increase, but this could be eliminated by washing the spores with dilute acid or ethylenediamine tetraacetate. Hydrogen peroxide removed protein from spores-apparently from the coat-and treatment with dithiothreitol, which also removes spore-coat protein, increased the lethal effect of hydrogen peroxide 500-fold, suggesting that spore-coat protein has a protective effect against hydrogen peroxide. (1940) first showed that the rate of loss of viability of spores in the presence of hydrogen peroxide depends on temperature and pH. Copper and cobalt ions increase the lysis of spores by hydrogen peroxide (Gould & Hitchins, 1963) but their effect on spore viability and structure has not been examined. We have therefore studied the effect of pH, temperature and the concentration of hydrogen peroxide and metal ions on colony formation, germination and the structure of spores of Clostridium bifermentans. METHODSOrganism, spore preparation and maintenance of culture. The strain of Clostridium b fermentans used and the preparation and storage of spores were as described previously (Waites & Wyatt, 1971) except that spores were produced on a trypticase agar containing (g 1-l): Trypticase (BBL), 30 ; yeast extract (Difco), I '0 ; ammonium sulphate, 10 ; agar, I 2 ; adjusted to pH 7-3 with I M-NaOH. The organism was maintained in the reinforced clostridial medium of Hirsch & Grinsted (1954).Treatment of spores with hydrogen peroxide. Hydrogen peroxide (BDH) at the concentrations described was added to spores (about 0.7 mg dry wt ml-l) in sodium phosphate buffer (100 mM in phosphate at the stated pH) which had been pre-incubated at the required

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Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Effect of Hydrogen Peroxide on Spores of Clostridium bifermentans

Bayliss¹,

Waites²

1976

Journal of General Microbiology

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“…The strain of Clostridium byermentans used and the preparation and storage of spores have been described previously (Waites & Wyatt, 1971).The organism was maintained in the reinforced clostridial medium of Hirsch & Grinstead (1954).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…No comparable data are available for clostridia. Spores of Clostridium bij2rmentans germinate with sodium ions and either L-alanine or various mixtures of other amino acids (Waites & Wyatt, 1971). This paper reports the effect of conditions on the germination of C .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Effect of pH, Germinants and Temperature on the Germination of Spores of Clostridium bifermentans

Waites¹,

Wyatt²

1974

Journal of General Microbiology

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S U M M A R YThe germination rate of Clostridicinz bifermentans spores and the manner in which it is influenced by pH, sodium ion concentration and temperature differ according to the organic germinant used. Only L-alanine initiated germination when present alone. The germination rate with optimal L-alanine was increased by L-phenylalanine, L-arginine, L-histidine or L-lysine but not by other common amino acids or L-lactate. With suboptimal concentrations of L-alanine, addition of L-lactate, L-arginine or L-phenylalanine increased the germination rate more than an equal concentration of L-alanine. The mechanisms whereby L-phenylalanine and L-arginine stimulate germination appear to be different from those involved when L-alanine or L-lactate are the germinants.

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“…It has been previously reported that spores of C. bifermentans germinate in the presence of L-alanine, L-arginine, L-phenylalanine, and L-lactate, even though no Ger receptor has been identified in this species (Waites and Wyatt, 1971). This is similar to our recent findings that showed that C. sordellii, a close relative of C. bifermentans, needs a combination of a small amino acid, a basic amino acid, an aromatic amino acid, and bicarbonate to germinate (Ramirez and Abel-Santos, 2010).…”

Section: Germination Response In Clostridium Bifermentans and Clostrimentioning

confidence: 97%

The Ger Receptor Family from Sporulating Bacteria

Roß

Abel-Santos

2010

Current Issues in Molecular Biology

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Bacterial spores are specialized cells that are exceptionally resistant to environmental stress. Spores convert back to actively growing cells, a process called germination, upon nutrient detection. The most common, initial step in the germination process is the recognition of small molecule germinants by germination (Ger) receptors. Ger receptors are inner-membrane heterocomplexes formed by three distinct protein products, the A-, B-, and C-subunits. In this review, we discuss and contrast published reports on representative Ger receptors from different Bacilli and Clostridia. We also present evidence for unrecognized germination pathways independent of Ger receptors. We further emphasize the function of L-alanine as a universal germinant. We also comment on biochemical aspects of germinant recognition and interaction between Ger receptor proteins. We propose that there are six general strategies used by Bacilli and Clostridia to integrate multiple germination signals. The use of different germinant recognition strategies results in germination response flexibility. Consequently, sporulating bacterial species that use the same biomolecules as germination signals can have different germination profiles. Finally, we discuss future directions for understanding the function of Ger receptors.

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Germination of Spores of Clostridium bifermentans by Certain Amino Acids, Lactate and Pyruvate in the Presence of Sodium or Potassium Ions

Abstract: Spores of Clostridium bifermentans germinated in the presence of L-alanine and sodium ions. The rate of germination was not altered by the addition of D-alanine but was increased by L-a-amino-n-butyrate, L-lactate, L-

Cited by 31 publications

References 11 publications

The Effect of Hydrogen Peroxide on Spores of Clostridium bifermentans

The Effect of Hydrogen Peroxide on Spores of Clostridium bifermentans

The Effect of pH, Germinants and Temperature on the Germination of Spores of Clostridium bifermentans

The Ger Receptor Family from Sporulating Bacteria

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