L-PROLINE SITE FOR TRIGGERING BACILLUS-MEGATERIUM SPORE GERMINATION

Germination of Bacillus megaterium QM B1551 spores can be triggered by L-proline chloromethyl ketone at ∼ 10 fold lower concentrations than L-proline. [3H] L-proline chloromethyl ketone bound to several protein fractions, one of which was decreased in a mutant (JV137) that cannot be triggered by L-proline. Treatment of spores with [3H] acetic anhydride specifically inhibited L-proline triggered germination, and also covalently modified the same protein fraction which appears to be bound to the spore membrane. These results indicate that it is possible to identify a protein fraction in spores that may play a key role in triggering spore germination. © 1979.