title: Metabolism and the triggering of germination of Bacillus megaterium. Concentrations of amino acids, organic acids, adenine nucleotides and nicotinamide nucleotides during germination.
abstract: A considerable amount of evidence suggests that metabolism of germinants or metabolism stimulated by them is involved in triggering bacterial-spore germination. On the assumption that such a metabolic trigger might lead to relatively small biochemical changes in the first few minutes of germination, sensitive analytical techniques were used to detect any changes in spore components during the L-alanine-triggered germination of Bacillus megaterium KM spores. These experiments showed that no changes in spore free amino acids or ATP occurred until 2-3 min after L-alanine addition. Spores contained almost no oxo acids (pyruvate, alpha-oxoglutarate, oxaloacetate), malate or reduced NAD. These compounds were again not detectable until 2-3 min after addition of germinants. It is suggested, therefore, that metabolism associated with these intermediates is not involved in the triggering of germination of this organism.
mesh_terms: D000227:Adenine Nucleotides / Q000378:metabolism; D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate / Q000096:biosynthesis; D000596:Amino Acids / Q000378:metabolism; D001410:Bacillus megaterium / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000502:physiology; D007288:Inosine / Q000494:pharmacology; D007656:Ketoglutaric Acids / Q000378:metabolism; D008293:Malates / Q000378:metabolism; D011773:Pyruvates / Q000378:metabolism; D013171:Spores, Bacterial / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000227:Adenine Nucleotides; D000596:Amino Acids; D007656:Ketoglutaric Acids; D008293:Malates; D011773:Pyruvates; D007288:Inosine; D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate