Measurement of Metabolic Activity in Dormant Spores of Bacillus Species
Abstract
Spores of Bacillus megaterium and Bacillus subtilis were harvested shortly after release from sporangia, incubated under various conditions and spore metabolism monitored by 31P-NMR of small molecules. Incubation for up to 30 d at 4-50 Degrees C in water or buffer to raise spore core pH to 7.8, or at 4 in spent sporulation medium led to no changes in small molecules including 3-phosphoglyceric acid (3PGA) or mono nucleotides, and no ATP accumulation. Similar results were obtained with spores that had gone through Stage I of germination and were incubated 8 d at 37 Degrees C. However, spores incubated in spent sporulation medium at 37 or 50 degraded much 3PGA and accumulated mono nucleotides (but not ATP!), and these processes were accelerated when core pH was raised to 7.8. These data indicate that spores store in water or buffer at low or high temperatures exhibit little if any metabolism of endogenous compounds. However, spores stored in spent sporulation medium did exhibit some metabolism, including 3PGA degradation and mono nucleotide accumulation, the latter indicative of RNA degradation. These results indicate that "dormant" spores can carry out some metabolic reactions.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jan 14, 2015
- Accession Number
- ADA623459
Entities
People
- Peter Setlow
Organizations
- University of Connecticut Health Center