Initiation of spore germination in Bacillus subtilis: relationship to inhibition of L-alanine metabolism.
The inhibitory effects of anthranilic acid esters (methyl anthranilate and N-methyl anthranilate) on the l-alanine-induced initiation of spore germination was examined in Bacillus subtilis 168. Methyl anthranilate irreversibly inhibited alanine initiation by a competitive mechanism. In its presence, the inhibition could be reversed only by the combined addition of d-glucose, d-fructose, and K(+). Both l-alanine dehydrogenase and l-glutamate-pyruvate transaminase, enzymes which catalyze the first reaction in l-alanine metabolism, were competitively inhibited by methyl anthranilate. The K(i) values for germination initiation (0.053 mM) and of l-glutamate-pyruvate transaminase (0.068 mM) were similar, whereas that for l-alanine dehydrogenase (0.4 mM) was six to seven times higher. Since a mutant lacking l-alanine dehydrogenase activity germinated normally in l-alanine alone, it is speculated that the major pathway of l-alanine metabolism during initiation may be via transmination reaction.
D000409:Alanine / Q000378:metabolism*; D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D000594:Amino Acid Oxidoreductases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D001216:Asparagine / Q000378:metabolism; D001412:Bacillus subtilis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000378:metabolism; D001565:Benzoates / Q000494:pharmacology; D002250:Carbon Radioisotopes; D002474:Cell-Free System; D055598:Chemical Phenomena; D002621:Chemistry; D005632:Fructose / Q000378:metabolism; D005947:Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D008745:Methylation; D010088:Oxidoreductases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D011188:Potassium / Q000378:metabolism; D013171:Spores, Bacterial / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000378:metabolism; D013237:Stereoisomerism; D062367:ortho-Aminobenzoates / Q000494:pharmacology
D001565:Benzoates; D002250:Carbon Radioisotopes; D062367:ortho-Aminobenzoates; D005632:Fructose; D001216:Asparagine; D010088:Oxidoreductases; D000594:Amino Acid Oxidoreductases; D000410:Alanine Transaminase; D005947:Glucose; D000409:Alanine; D011188:Potassium