title: Thermal analysis of the spores of Bacillus cereus with special reference to heat activation.
abstract: The heat activation of bacterial spores was studied by means of differential thermal analysis in the temperature range 30-110 degrees C using the spores of Bacillus cereus. The thermogram showed three endothermic peaks at 56, 95, and 103 degrees C with one exothermic peak at 105 degrees C during the heating process. The spore coat separated from the native spores also showed a peak at 56 degrees C on its heating thermogram. The peak at 56 degrees C was reversible for both native spores and the spore coat. It was suggested that this peak at 56 degrees C might be related to the heat-activation process that takes place in the spore-coat region. It seems that the peak is due to the denaturation or the structural change of the spore-coat protein that might facilitate either the permeation of germination stimulators or the release of some germination inhibitor into or out of the spores.
mesh_terms: D001409:Bacillus cereus / Q000032:analysis / Q000502:physiology*; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000032:analysis; D002152:Calorimetry, Differential Scanning; D002473:Cell Wall / Q000032:analysis; D006358:Hot Temperature; D011487:Protein Conformation; D013171:Spores, Bacterial / Q000032:analysis / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D001426:Bacterial Proteins