title: -aminobutyric acid as a required germinant for mutant spores of Bacillus megaterium.
abstract: Germinated spores of Bacillus megaterium QM B1551 were irradiated with ultraviolet light, and spore-forming survivors were screened for germination requirements. Spore strains which failed to germinate in a variety of defined solutions germinative for spores of the parent strain were obtained. Mutant spores germinated readily in solutions containing yeast extract or one of numerous complex preparations. gamma-Aminobutyric acid, obtained from yeast extract by column chromatography, was shown to be required for germination by the mutant spores. gamma-Aminobutyric acid and l-alanine at final concentrations of 1 mm each, in solutions of KI (40 mm), equaled the potency of yeast extract (1 mg/ml) in the germination of the mutant spores. One of several other amino acids could be substituted, though less effectively, for l-alanine. alpha-Aminobutyric acid, beta-aminobutyric acid, beta-alanine, and 5-aminovaleric acid were ineffective substitutes for gamma-aminobutyric acid in mutant spore germination.
mesh_terms: D000409:Alanine / Q000378:metabolism; D000596:Amino Acids / Q000378:metabolism; D000613:Aminobutyrates / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism*; D001410:Bacillus megaterium / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000528:radiation effects; D002852:Chromatography, Ion Exchange; D002854:Chromatography, Paper; D003124:Colorimetry; D003470:Culture Media; D005827:Genetics, Microbial; D005947:Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D006358:Hot Temperature; D006868:Hydrolysis; D009154:Mutation; D012440:Saccharomyces; D013170:Spores / Q000254:growth & development*; D013171:Spores, Bacterial / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D013237:Stereoisomerism; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays
chemical_list: D000596:Amino Acids; D000613:Aminobutyrates; D003470:Culture Media; D005947:Glucose; D000409:Alanine