NITROGENOUS COMPOUNDS IN GERMINATION AND POSTGERMINATIVE DEVELOPMENT OF BACILLUS MEGATERIUM SPORES

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Abstract
Of the 48 inorganic and organic nitrogenous compounds tested only L-alanine, glucosamine and N-acetylglucosamine promote germination of unheated spores of Bacillus megaterium. Heated spores also germinate in nitrate, nitrite, L-cysteine, DL-isoleucine, L-leucine, DL-methionine, DL-norleucine, L-proline and L-valine. A source of nitrogen is required for post-germinative development, but nitrogenous compounds which effect germination do not necessarily support postgerminative development. Nitrogenous compounds which support post-germinative development include (NH4 2SO4, nitrates, D-alanine, L-alanine, L-arginine, L-asparagine, L-aspartic and L-glutamic acids, glutamine, L-proline, adenine, adenosine and guanosine. Oxygen consumption rates during postgerminative development are different with different nitrogen sources; and these rates, in general, reflect the extent of postgerminative development. Utilization of amino and ammonium nitrogen during postgerminative development was followed, and the concentration requirements were determined (ca 10 m[image] for at least one cell division of 5 X 108 spores). Inhibitor studies on postgerminative development are included.