Role of GerKB in germination and outgrowth of Clostridium perfringens spores.
Previous work indicated that Clostridium perfringens gerKA gerKC spores germinate significantly, suggesting that gerKB also has a role in C. perfringens spore germination. We now find that (i) gerKB was expressed only during sporulation, likely in the forespore; (ii) gerKB spores germinated like wild-type spores with nonnutrient germinants and with high concentrations of nutrients but more slowly with low nutrient concentrations; and (iii) gerKB spores had lower colony-forming efficiency and slower outgrowth than wild-type spores. These results suggest that GerKB plays an auxiliary role in spore germination under some conditions and is required for normal spore viability and outgrowth.
Department of Biomedical Sciences, Oregon State University, Corvallis, 97331, USA.
Daniel
D
Paredes-Sabja
Peter
P
Setlow
Mahfuzur R
MR
Sarker
D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D003016:Clostridium perfringens / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development*; D017353:Gene Deletion; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D023061:Gene Order; D050296:Microbial Viability; D013171:Spores, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development*
D001426:Bacterial Proteins