STUDIES ON SPORE GERMINATION

IV. RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN GERMINATION AND APPEARANCE OF GLUCOSE DEHYDROGENASE ACTIVITY IN B. SUBTILIS SPORE

Abstract

Heat activated fresh or aged non-germinated spores of B. subtilis (PCI 219) have no activity of glucose dehydrogenase.
The whole cells of the germinated spores which were incubated in meat infusion broth for 10 min. at 37°C, oxidize glucose, gluconate, G-6-P and 6-PG. The cellfree extracts of the germinated spores oxidize glucose with the addition of DPN and TPN, G-6-P with TPN, and 6-PG with TPN, but they do not oxidize gluconate with TPN.
Glucose dehydrogenase in the germinated spores is more dependent upon TPN than DPN. The activity of glucose dehydrogenase is stimulated by CH₂ICOOH.
Ruptured aged spores do not show any activity of glucose dehydrogenase, even if they are incubated with germinating agents.
Appearance of gluconate oxidation presents the possibility of the existence of an enzyme precursor of gluconate dehydrogenase.