Germination Response of Bacillus licheniformis Spores to Amino Acids

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Abstract
Only L-alanine, L-cysteine and L-valine of 24 amino acids markedly stimulated germination of Bacillus licheniformis spores. There was considerable variation in the rate and extent of germination in response to L-cysteine and L-valine, but all isolates responded similarly to L-alanine. The rate of germination in the presence of these amino-acids was extremely rapid, with significant germination after 4 min. incubation with L-alanine, after 6 min. with L-cysteine and after 8 min. with L-valine. Very low levels of L-alanine stimulated considerable germination of 0.0005% and 0.001% L-alanine inducing 40% and 68% germination, respectively, after 15 min. of incubation at 35oC. D-alanine only slightly stimulated spore germination; and when present with equal concentrations of L-alanine, inhibited the stimulatory effect of L-alanine.