Role of Acetate in Sporogenesis of Bacillus cereus

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Nakata, H. M. (Washington State University, Pullman). Role of acetate in sporogenesis of Bacillus cereus. J. Bacteriol. 91:784–788. 1966.—The distribution of radioactivity associated initially with acetate-2-C14 was followed during sporogenesis of Bacillus cereus strain T. This was accomplished by replacing cells committed to sporulation into a chemically defined sporulation medium. It was observed that 65 to 70% of the initial radioactivity was incorporated into poly-β-hydroxybutyrate, whereas 20 to 25% was found in other cellular constituents. Virtually no radioactivity was lost as C14O2 during the first 5 to 6 hr after replacement. Then, a gradual evolution of C14O2 coincident with poly-β-hydroxybutyrate degradation, was observed until about the ninth hour. By this time, the polymer was essentially depleted, and the first spore structures were observed in stained preparations. The total amount of radioactivity lost as C14O2 was 20 to 25%. The major portion of products derived from poly-β-hydroxybutyrate was incorporated into the spores. As much as 17% of the radioactivity associated with the spores was found in dipicolinic acid. More than 50% was located in spore proteins, 20 to 25% in the hot 5% trichloroacetic acid-soluble fraction, 4 to 5% in the lipid fraction, and 15 to 20% in the cold 5% trichloroacetic acid-soluble fraction. These data, accounting for 70 to 75% of the initial radioactivity, confirmed the hypothesis that the major role of acetate, and subsequently of poly-β-hydroxybutyrate, in sporulation of B. cereus T is to provide carbon precursors and energy for sporogenesis.

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