Visualization of SpoVAEa Protein Dynamics in Dormant Spores of Bacillus cereus and Dynamic Changes in Their Germinosomes and SpoVAEa during Germination

Abstract

Bacillus cereus is commonly present in soil and infects humans via contaminated food. In this study, we used B. cereus spores to investigate the movement of the spore-specific inner membrane (IM) channel protein SpoVAEa, the interaction between SpoVAEa and the germinosome scaffold protein GerD, and the dynamics of germinosomes with GerR and GerD in spore germination.

Sporulation, Structure Assembly, and Germination in the Soil Bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis: Survival and Success in the Environment and the Insect Host

“…It would appear that DPA is the master component whose movement determines the sporulation or germination of a vegetative cell. Indeed, in a recent study using B. subtilis, it was suggested that the subunits of the SpoVa proteins that form channels and cytoplasmic plugs play a role in the efficiency of DPA import (sporulation) and export (germination) [37,38,135]. DPA transport into the spores involves cycles of unplugging and then replugging the C-Eb membrane channel.…”

“…DPA transport into the spores involves cycles of unplugging and then replugging the C-Eb membrane channel. Nutrient detection during germination triggers DPA release by unplugging the C-Eb [37,38,135] (Figure 3).…”

“…The termination "ome" refers to a set of clustered elements that performs an integrated function. Therefore, in spore germination, there is recent evidence of the local clustering of receptors in a germinosome in the IM of B. subtilis [233,234], and B. cereus [37,219]. Moreover, in some points, B.thuringiensis form foci as a complex of germinant receptors (GR) known as germinosomes [119,227,[235][236][237].…”

“…New strains have been identified of Bt that produce Cyt2BA against Bradysia difformis (pests in mushroom production) [4,248]. Another examples of this is the B. thuringiensis strains GBA46 and NMTD81, and the strain FZB42, Of toxic against the phytopathogen Aphelenchoides besseyi and cause severe damage to various crops of plants and vegetables [37,71,239]. Of relevance is that the progress and the development of novel and improved biological technologies for the bioremediation of heavy metals and other pollutants [249,250], B. thuringiensis is a model for hijacking the process of the synthesis of crystal proteins in order to generate diverse proteins with applications in biotechnology and medicine (nanoparticle delivery system) [251].…”

“…Specifically, these metabolic pathways are involved in synthesis, energy storage, carbon supply, and nutrients (amino acids, sugars), and these are under close regulation (transcriptional and translational) during sporulation and crystal synthesis [35,36]. Nonetheless, there are many questions to answer in terms of the molecular evolution and conservation of the core set of molecular components, the master germinating receptors (GR), the master SpoVA, hydrolytic enzymes, the master dipicolinic acid, import and export, gene-operon organization, biochemical composition, PG, the structural organization of the lipids of the layers between the spores, the germinating spore, and the vegetative cells [37,38]. This knowledge can impact many applications that range from immune stimulants, such as probiotics [39], to nanotechnology as the ideal and model vehicle for drug delivery and vaccines, and in evolutionary biology, developmental biology, and ecology [6,30,40].…”